Reporter - International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Transcription
Reporter - International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
the Boilermaker http://capwiz.com/boilermaker Reporter Joe Maloney is new Western Canada IVP Rick Albright retires after 38 years of service, nearly 20 years as IVP THE INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE Council approved the nomination of Joseph Maloney as International vice president of Western Canada, effective October 1. Maloney was nominated by Intl. Pres. Newton B. Jones to take the position vacated by Rick Albright, who retired Sept. 30. Maloney, a 30-year member of Local 128, Toronto, Ontario, has Joe Maloney — new IVP worked for the Photo by ENR’s Guy Lawrence. Building & Construction Trades Department (BCTD) since 1993. He began that portion of his career in the Canadian office as assistant to the executive secretary. In 1998, he became the BCTD’s director of Canadian Affairs, and in 2000, he was appointed to serve as BCTD secretary-treasurer under the new president, Edward C. Sullivan. 753 State Avenue, Suite 565 Kansas City, Kansas 66101 the Boilermaker Reporter ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Long Prairie, MN Permit No. 100 See Maloney, page 6 Vol. 44 No. 4 Sep • Oct 2005 The Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO http://www.boilermakers.org Boilermakers bring relief Union efforts help Katrina victims WHEN LOCAL 1814 Bus. Rep. Joe Johnson evacuated his New Orleans home a mile from the Superdome, he just piled his family in the car and drove off. Like other lifelong residents of the Gulf Coast, he’d been through many hurricanes and knew the routine: A night or two in a motel or hurricane shelter, then back to clean up the house and yard and get back to business. But this hurricane was different. Eighteen days later, when the National Guard finally allowed Johnson to return to his home, he discovered that the flood waters from the breached levees had reached to within one foot of the ceiling. Everything he owned had been damaged beyond repair. He had his family and the clothes he was wearing. And he was a lot better off than many of his neighbors. As he searched his home for usable items, the air outside reeked of decaying bodies. Boilermaker trucks taking supplies to Lodge 1814’s relief center were the first nonmilitary, nonemergency vehicles allowed back into that area. See Relief, page 2 Shears is Top Canadian Apprentice Jan Pedersen receives the Don Whan Award of Excellence DOUG SHEARS, A GRADUATE apprentice from Local 359, Vancouver, British Columbia, was named the Top Canadian Apprentice at this year’s competition in Burnaby, British Columbia. Shears earned the title by outscoring his six opponents in a series of written examinations, plus four practical problems similar to what he might encounter on the job, testing knowledge and skills in a variety of areas. Jan Pedersen was awarded the Donald G. WhanJan Pedersen Award for Excellence for his many years supporting Boilermaker apprentice training. Boilermaker National Training Coordinator Grant Jacobs said, “The success of this and preceding competitions reinforces the benefits to the industry. The individuals who have participated in these competitions in the past 11 years go on to be leaders in the industry.” This marked the first year that all Canadian construction lodges were represented at the competition. In addition to Shears, contestants included David Noel, Local Lodge 73, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bryan Hahn, Local Lodge 128, Toronto; Andre Moffett, Local Lodge 146, Edmonton, Alberta; Nathaniel O’Brien, Local Lodge 203, St. John, Newfoundland; Stephane Leblanc, Local Lodge 271, Montreal; and Dwayne Skoc, Local Lodge 555, Winnipeg, Manitoba. The competition was held at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in Burnaby. Test coordinators were Russ Osborne and Richard Macintosh, Boilermaker instructors at BCIT. Union judges were Frank Nolan, Mike Bayens, Bill Healy, See Shears, page 13 Jan Pedersen (l.) congratulates Local 359’s Doug Shears on being named the top Canadian apprentice for 2005. 2 - the Boilermaker Reporter NEWSMAKERS Sep • Oct 2005 Hurricane Katrina not only damaged homes, it obliterated many, leaving only piles of sticks and trash. Relief Continued from p.1 Hurricane Katrina caught hundreds of thousands of people off guard. Many residents of the Gulf Coast had lived through Hurricane Camille, often called the most destructive hurricane to hit land in North America. That storm’s 20-foot storm surge and 190 mph winds killed 318 and destroyed 5,662 homes. Katrina was not in that league when it struck Florida. It grew to Category 5 strength in the Gulf of Mexico, but evacuation orders came late, and hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents were unable to leave or believed it wouldn’t be as bad as Camille. In some ways, it wasn’t. By the time Katrina made landfall on August 29, sustained winds measured only 140mph. But it was a very broad storm, with a surge of 25 feet in Mississippi and hurricane-level winds in three states. Overnight, more than a million people lost electrical power and telephone service and thousands of homes were destroyed. Then levees in New Orleans gave way, flooding 80 percent of the city. All told, over half-a-million people were forced from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of them had nowhere to go and no way to get there. Wide areas of the three-state region hardest hit were without food and drinking water. Boilermakers union responds quickly HEARING REPORTS of the catastrophe, Intl. President Newton B. Jones knew the Boilermakers union had to do something to help the more than 4,000 Boilermaker members who live in the area. He acted quickly, sending IVPs Sam May and Othal Smith to assess the situation and begin relief efforts, approving $55,000 to purchase and distribute relief supplies, establishing an emergency relief fund and soliciting donations, temporarily suspending per Joe Johnson prepares to enter his New Orleans home, 18 days after Hurricane Katrina flooded it. The spray paint on the door indicates the National Guard has already searched the home for bodies. capita dues for members in the area, and establishing a special database to ensure that all members in the area are accounted for. Asst. to the Intl. Pres. Dennis King began working with Lodge 112 Business Manager Curtis Brooks (Mobile, Ala.), Lodge 693 Business Manager Frank Ludgood (Pascagoula, Miss.), and Lodge 110 Bus. Mgr. Justin G. Havard (Hattiesburg, Miss.) to coordinate efforts in Alabama and Mississippi. District Lodge 5 Business Manager John Simoneaux began working with Local 37 Bus. Mgr. David Hegeman (Slidell, La.) and Local 582 Bus. Mgr. John Kelly (Baton Rouge, La.) to coordinate efforts in the New Orleans area. But first they had to get in touch with everyone. Telephone lines were down in many areas, and power outages meant cell phones wouldn’t work. The the Boilermaker Reporter Sep • Oct 2005 Vol. 44 No. 4 Newton B. Jones, International President and Editor-in-Chief Jerry Z. Willburn, Intl. Secretary-Treasurer International Vice Presidents Lawrence McManamon, Great Lakes Sean Murphy, Northeast Sam May, Southeast George Rogers, Central Joe Stinger, Western States Richard Albright, Western Canada Alexander MacDonald, Eastern Canada Jim Hickenbotham, At-Large Othal Smith Jr., At-Large Editorial staff Donald Caswell, Managing Editor Carol Almond, Asst. to the Managing Editor Although the outside didn't look too bad, when Joe entered his home he found nearly everything water-damaged beyond repair. The Boilermaker Reporter is the official publication of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers, and Helpers, AFL-CIO. It is published bimonthly to disseminate information of use and interest to its members. Submissions from members, local lodges, and subordinate or affiliated bodies are welcomed and encouraged. This publication is mailed free of charge to active members and retired members holding a Retired Members Card. Others may subscribe for the price of $10 for three years. Standard Mail (A) postage paid at Kansas City, Kan., and additional mailing offices. ISSN No. 1078-4101. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Boilermaker Reporter 753 State Avenue, Suite 565 Kansas City, KS 66101 (913) 371-2640; FAX (913) 281-8104 Web sites: www.boilermakers.org and http://capwiz.com/boilermaker PUBLICATION AGREEMENT No. 40010131 Printed in the U.S.A. A prize-winning newspaper Sep • Oct 2005 NEWSMAKERS the Boilermaker Reporter - 3 Local 1814 Vice President Patricia Davis packs a box with relief items at Local 1814’s relief center. “What I witnessed was very similar to you taking your Local 1814's relief center never lacks for customers. Locals 37, 110, 112, 693, and 1814 established homes and relief centers as soon as transportation and power were available. blowing them supplies from United Way and completely up with explosives. Picture other groups a box of toothpicks emptied out of the As they received goods to box on your desk top. You have to see it deliver, Boilermaker volun- to fully understand.” teers made daily trips. They Local 1814 Vice President Patricia picked up donations from area Davis was evacuated from her home in churches and purchased goods New Orleans to Walker, La. — a fourwhen they could, taking them and-a-half hour drive from her job at to 20 different locations in Avondale. She is convinced she lost Alabama, Louisiana, and everything because flood waters Mississippi. In a single day, reached her attic, but so far she hasn’t anywhere from one to checked, because she doesn’t think she 18 trucks were on the road could stand to see everything she owns delivering supplies. in ruins. Northrop-Grumman’s In Biloxi, Local 693 President J. J. Avondale Shipyard, which Cridell had decided to ride the storm employs Local 1814 members, out. He’d been through Camille and arranged for work permits that thought he knew what to expect. As the allowed Boilermakers to bring storm surge filled his home to within relief trucks into Bridge City on inches of the ceiling, J. J. and his family September 14. A convoy of took shelter in the attic. When they eight vehicles (including crawled out after the storm had passed two 26-foot trucks and a and the water had receded, they pickup pulling a trailer) and 20 learned that many of their neighbors Local 112 member Melvin Johnston loads his volunteers from Locals 112 had not been so lucky. Unable to get and 693 left the Local 112 hall into their attics, they had drowned. truck with supplies for his neighbors. at 7:30 a.m., bound for Local Local 37’s secretary, Toni Howell, a 1814. En route, two more vehi- single mother with four children, fled few circuits that remained in service cles joined the convoy. Slidell, La., before the storm. That were swamped with calls. Heavy traffic and many National proved to be a wise move. A tree went Travel was difficult as well. Bridges were down and roads blocked. Guard checkpoints made the three- through her roof. She’s staying with Refugees of the storm had purchased hour trip take seven, but they finally Simoneaux and his wife in Baton all the gasoline, and trucks had diffi- arrived and began unloading food, Rouge, hoping to find an apartment in blankets, cleaning supplies, clothes, an area where housing is suddenly in culty getting into the area to replace it. Yet by August 31, only two days after and toys. It was the first time that any- extremely short supply. Toni’s parents, Edith and Tony Nata, the storm, they were able to make their one other than military and emerfirst run to Montgomery, Ala., to pur- gency personnel had been allowed to ended up riding out the storm in the chase supplies. These were delivered to enter that area since the storm. When attic of their son’s house after packing Pascagoula, Lucedale, and Biloxi, they got there, Avondale supervisors all of their belongings into a trailer. Miss., over the next three days. When asked if they could get some water, too, Their house ended up looking like they delivered water and food to Biloxi, since they had none in their homes. matchsticks; the trailer and all their residents who hadn’t eaten in days Local 1814 opened the relief center to all possessions were destroyed. Now pulled off the pop-tops and drank soup Avondale workers and area residents, they’re living in a tent on the property they own — a 20-foot-by-20-foot square right from the can. IVPs May and Smith not just Boilermakers. Convoys throughout the area contin- piece of grass. not only got the relief effort underway, The storm slowed down Boilermakthey unloaded the first truck that deliv- ued until Sept. 19, after which pickup trucks full of supplies continued to take ers in the area, but didn’t stop them. ered food and water to Local 37. King used our good relationship supplies to the halls for distribution Lodge 112 was having its monthly meeting when power was restored to with Northrop-Grumman to arrange to members. the hall. When supplies and electrical for work permits so that trucks could power became available, all lodges in enter areas still under National Guard Recovery is slow but steady control. Bubba and Hugh Turner, VIDEO ON THE nightly news and the area set up relief centers. Slidell is located north and east of brothers who are officers of Local 112, photos in newspapers cannot convey have a sister who is the union liaison the extent of the damage and the prob- New Orleans, on the other side of Lake with United Way. She told them that lems facing residents. Three weeks Pontchartrain. That area took nearly a United Way had supplies ready to after the storm, hundreds of thousands direct hit from Katrina. The lodge’s hall deliver, but waiting periods of at least of people still cannot return to their was flooded, and members’ homes three to five days to get permission to homes. Many have nothing to return to. destroyed. Before the storm hit, King enter the area. Local 112 volunteers Others still have homes, but their pos- had phoned each hall and advised them to remove their records to a safe stepped up, working 10- and 12-hour sessions were damaged or destroyed. location. Toni Howell, Bus. Mgr. Hegedays to load and drive trucks with BoilSimoneaux described what he saw ermaker supplies and $30,000 worth of in Slidell and New Orleans this way: man’s secretary, took Lodge 37’s records with her when she evacuated. Once the storm was passed, they were able to begin operating again out of the District 5 office in Baton Rouge, and are expected to be able to return to the hall once it is cleaned up. Pascagoula sits directly on the coast, just 20 miles east of Biloxi, where hundreds died. Their hall was flooded, too, and its roof gave way, but Terry and Sunny Everett, brothers who are members of Local 112, donated their personal trailer to Local 693 to use as an office. Halls can be rebuilt, but many members’ homes have been damaged beyond repair. Others may have to wait as many as nine months before they can return to theirs. And the storm took more than just property. While he was unloading supplies at the Local 1814 hall, Joe Johnson learned from his sister, who had been evacuated to the Houston Astrodome, that his sister-in-law had died. She and her family were planning to use FEMA’s $2,000 relief check to fly back for the funeral. Her home had been destroyed, so she would have to return to Houston afterward. At IP Jones’s direction, IVP May has established a database of Boilermaker members from the area hit by Katrina, tracking where they are and whether they need assistance with transportation, housing, or anything else. There are still some holes in that database — members as yet not accounted for. If you are a member of one of the locals in the hurricane’s path and have been unable to contact your lodge, please call Stacy Coleman at (423) 942-0126. ❑ Donate to the Brotherhood Disaster Fund You can help our union provide assistance to members who are victims of Hurricane Katrina . Send a check to: Brotherhood Disaster Fund Brotherhood Families Hurricane Katrina Victims President’s Office 753 State Ave., Suite 570 Kansas City KS 66101 4 - the Boilermaker Reporter NEWSMAKERS Sep • Oct 2005 Pictured at left:Tony and Edith Nata and two grandchildren talk to relief workers outside the tent they live in on the site where their home once stood. Pictured above:These stilts on the marsh are all that is left of their home. The roof of Local 693’s hall gave way, destroying nearly everything inside. Local 112 members Butch McDaniel (l.) andTommy Moose load a truck with items to be delivered to Boilermaker Local 1814 in Bridge City, La. Shipyards count on workers to get back in business HURRICANE KATRINA was barely out of Mississippi when the Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula started its cleanup. Regardless of their job titles, all employees were put to work filling trash bins and dump trucks with debris — some items damaged by the hurricane and some brought in by the wind and water. Like the rattlesnakes and water moccasins. At least two workers have been bitten. Every day, they added a few more employees and got a bit closer to being back in business. But ten days after the storm, still only one-fourth of the 12,000-person workforce was back. Ingalls employs about 1,800 Local 693 Boilermakers at the shipyard, building four classes of vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Because so many businesses and homes were destroyed, the shipyard hired an outside caterer to feed two meals a day to the workers. Still, many have no homes to return to at shift’s end. Some are being temporarily housed on Navy ships under construction at the port. Located in Bridge City, La., across the Mississippi River just west of New Orleans, Avondale shipyard faced similar difficulties. This area was not as severely damaged as New Orleans, and once water and power returned to the area, the shipyard could return to operations. But widespread flooding forced most Avondale employees far from their homes; many will have to drive several hours to and from work each day. At best, it will be months before employees who lived in the flooded areas can return to their homes. Many have nothing left to return to. Fortunately, the shipyard and Local 1814’s hall were not seriously damaged. The shipyard expects to return to full operation as soon as all employees can get back to work. Northrop-Grumman, owners of both Avondale and Ingalls, have taken great steps to help their employees return to work. They arranged with Western Union so that employees could pick up $1,000 in emergency cash from any Western Union office. In addition, employees who do not have their checks electronically deposited could pick up their pay in cash at Western Union. Northrop-Grumman also continued to pay employees who were unable to get to work for the weeks immediately after the storm. Paychecks for Northrop-Grumman employees who have not returned to work have ended, but the company hasn’t heard from everyone yet. Ingalls set up a hotline for employees to check in. According to company spokesperson Brian Cullin, they still need to hear from a “few thousand” employees. Both shipyards intend to phase in work as quickly as possible as employees return to work. That’s good news for NorthropGrumman employees who will need money to rebuild their homes and replace damaged possessions. ❑ ef od. me. Sep • Oct 2005 E D U C A T IPOANG E& I TDR A I N I N G the Boilermaker Reporter - 5 Construction lodge leaders meet in Calgary Delegates look at how new technology can increase Boilermaker work AT THE SEMI-ANNUAL conference of the Construction Division, July 6-9 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Director Dale “Skipper” Branscum told delegates that we need to educate our contractors about using the right craft for the job. “As new technology evolves, we need to look at its function to determine if it is Boilermaker work,” Branscum explained. To illustrate his point, he asked International representatives to make presentations on work involving ISO-membrane, aerial combustion, and convection sections. Intl. Rep. Marty Stanton said that while the use of ISO-membrane expansion joints is relatively new in the U.S. and Canada, they have been used in Europe for over a decade. He reported that the Insulators union is trying to get all of this work because of the product’s insulating properties; however, at least two Boilermaker locals have already performed this work based on the product’s function. Local 92 BM-ST Eddie Marquez (Los Angeles, Calif.) said the primary use for ISO-membrane is to fix the expansion joint — to seal it, not to insulate it — making it Boilermaker work. Local 667 BM-ST George Pinkerman (Charleston, W.Va.) agreed. He also said the ISO-membrane process can be used on rubber or metal expansion work and is a big time saver. AIP Clayton Plummer spoke about a jurisdictional dispute Local 363 (East St. Louis, Ill.) had with the Ironworkers union on installation of new aerial combustion systems. The work was awarded to the Boilermakers because even with the new technology and modifications on the project, the contractor said the FGR and combustion air would be used in the grate supports to help condition and move the fuel — there were no moving parts in this technology or grate system — making this Boilermaker work. Intl. Rep. Cory Channon discussed convection sections, the portion of a furnace in which tubes receive heat from flue gases by convection. There had been a jurisdictional dispute between the Boilermakers and the United Association (UA) and Ironworkers unions on a Horton CBI job site. Rather than risk losing the work to nonunion, the UA and Ironworkers stepped aside and let the Boilermakers complete the job. The unions have since met and agreed upon which craft would complete which installations, with the convection section (Boilermaker work) making up a large portion of the installation process for distillate recycle gas heaters. To help construction lodge leaders in future disputes, Intl. Rep. Clay Herford reviewed the jurisdictional dispute process. “When there is a dispute, we look for supporting evidence in joint committee meeting minutes and in previous arbitrations and/or joint board decisions,” Herford explained. Steelworker President Gerard addresses meeting He stresses need for all labor unions to work together Intl. Pres. Newton B. Jones describes the year ahead for construction Boilermakers. “We have always done very well because we have been prepared,” Branscum pointed out. Local 5 BM-ST Jerry Connolly echoed that point and said the key for him has been participation in prejob meetings. “It is important to document and follow-up on pre-job markups,” Branscum continued. “Using the NTL agreement for specialty work also isolates us from arbitrations in Project Labor Agreement jobs. Local men still get work, in many cases work that would probably have been tied up in arbitration.” “Owners stop hiring contractors who use workers with poor performances.” – Robert Blakely, director of Canadian affairs for the Building and Construction Trades Department, on the importance of marketing our strengths Who do we really work for? ROBERT BLAKELY, DIRECTOR of Canadian affairs for the Building and Construction Trades Department, told the conference delegates that we really work for the owner, not the contractor, and that it is up to us to sell the Boilermakers. In order to do that, we need to know what we are selling and we have to provide what we sell. “Members are hurting themselves through their absenteeism, abuse of lunch and break periods, and coming in late and leaving early,” Blakely said. “Owners stop hiring contractors who use workers with poor performances. When you cost the contractor and the owner money, the result is you cost yourself future jobs.” He asked if anyone had heard of the Seven Times Marketing Rule. “It means if you lose an owner, you are going to have to work seven times as hard to win him back,” he explained. Blakely then suggested that delegates build a good relationship with project managers and give the owners what they want — stability, safe work sites, and quality work. Other conference highlights WARREN FRALEIGH, BM-ST of Local 146, Edmonton, Alberta, showed a video presentation of their new stateof-the-art training facilities. Cal Roberts, president of the Brotherhood Bank, reviewed bank operations. Bryan King, administrative assistant to the International president and director of internal auditing, explained requirements for the U.S. Department of Labor’s LM-30 report. Branscum led a panel of International representatives that included previous speakers Channon, Herford, Plummer, and Stanton, and AIP Tony Gallo, Lone Star District BM Ronnie Keck, AIP Stan Petronski, and IR Steve Speed in the discussion of work outlooks and dispute patterns. Leonard Beauchamp, director of research and collective bargaining services, spoke about construction lodge training, and safety and health specialist, Milan Racic, presented a construction safety report. ❑ “Owners stop hiring contractors who use workers with poor performances.” — Robert Blakely LEO GERARD, PRESIDENT of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA) union, also addressed the conference. Introducing Gerard, IP Newton B. Jones recalled how closely the Boilermakers and Steelworkers unions worked together in the 2004 presidential election. “The thing I think is most important for us to understand is that we are not alone in the labor movement,” Jones said. “We need allies. We need friends.” Gerard reinforced Jones’ call to work together when he spoke about attacks against the labor movement and the values the labor movement represents — progress, good jobs, and decent pensions. He said that federal administrations in both the U.S. and Canada are “hellbent“ on stalling — and in most cases rolling back — the standard of living we’ve come to call the middle class. Gerard then thanked the Boilermakers union for their help in the USWA’s recent negotiations with a new owner, Northrop-Grumman. The USWA was getting nowhere in their negotiations until the Boilermakers, who have built a great relationship with this large shipyard owner, expressed our support for the USWAto the owner. The USWA then was able to negotiate the best contract their members had ever experienced at that yard. “Forget that we are 850,000. We need your help,” Gerard said. USWA President Leo Gerard displays the belt buckle he received for speaking to the Boilermakers jurisdiction conference. 6 - the Boilermaker Reporter NEP WAS G MEA K I DE R S Maloney AFL-CIO re-elects Sweeney Continued from p.1 Under Maloney’s and Sullivan’s leadership, the BCTD launched new training programs, along with pilot programs to ease workplace disruptions and jurisdictional disputes. Maloney’s work with Helmets to Hardhats (H2H), a program that links active and former military personnel with construction trade apprenticeships and jobs, earned him the Engineering NewsRecord magazine’s 40th annual Award of Excellence in April 2005. But Maloney’s roots run deepest in the Boilermakers union. A second-generation Boilermaker, Maloney joined Local 128 in 1974, at the young age of 17. A graduate apprentice, he worked as a fitter and rigger and served Local 128 in numerous capacities, from steward to president and finally as business manager. In 1991, he was appointed to serve as an International representative for Eastern Canada. Maloney, a 1993 graduate of the Harvard University Trade Union Program, has also served as vice president of the Ontario Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council and is a member of the Multi-Employment Benefit Council of Canada and many other organizations. “It is truly a humbling experience and an absolute honor to serve the Brotherhood as Western Canadian IVP,” Maloney said. “Filling Rick’s shoes will be no easy task as I look forward to the challenges ahead. The operations in Western Canada are impressive and I look forward to working with everyone to continue this and make Western Canada a beacon for the brotherhood to look at. “I know my experience from the Building Trades will enhance and strengthen our future endeavors. It is going to be very exciting to be working with the leadership and membership to continue to make the Boilermakers the best in the business.” Walk-outs mar convention, but alliance still strong Rick Albright retires after nearly 20 years as IVP for Western Canada. Rick Albright retires after a distinguished career RICHARD C. ALBRIGHT, a 38-year member of Local 146, Edmonton, Alberta, began his Boilermaker career in 1967. He served as a business agent for Local 146 prior to his appointment as an International representative in 1976. In 1986, he was elected to serve the Boilermakers union as International vice president of Western Canada, a position he was re-elected to at the three following Consolidated Conventions. Agraduate of the Harvard University Trade Union Program, Albright has served as chairman of the BCTD’s Canadian Executive Board since 1988. He is president of the Saskatchewan & Northwest Territories Allied Council and of the Western Conference of International Representatives. Albright also serves as director of Growth Works, cochair of the national construction bargaining committee, and as trustee for the Boilermakers’ national pension trust, national training trust, and Local 555 apprenticeship and training trust. ❑ L-587’s Richard, Rice earn Can Do Spirit awards TWO LOCAL 587 members, David Richard and Dennis Rice, have earned Can Do Spirit awards for their in-plant organizing efforts at Lufkin Industries, Inc. The awards, part of the Boilermakers’ in-plant organizing program, were created to recognize the efforts of members who try to get their nonunion coworkers to join the union at facilities where the Boilermakers already have collective bargaining rights with the company. Since 1993, Richard has organized 74 new members at Lufkin; Rice has brought in 24 new members since he began his recruiting in 2004. Richard joined Local 587, Orange, Texas, in 1972; Rice joined in 1967. Both work as stewards at Lufkin, a manufacturing facility where members build oil field equipment (pumping stations), and flat beds, vans, and dumpster trailers for over-the-road transportation. Dependent on the economy for its sales, Lufkin experiences frequent layoffs, with later increased hiring when orders pick up. As a result, the work- Sep • Oct 2005 Local 587 BM-ST James Kirkland III, center, presents Can Do Spirit awards to David Richard (l.) and Dennis Rice. force changes often, and Local 587 organizers are kept busy recruiting new members. In 1993, Local 587 began participating in the Boilermakers’ inplant organizing program, allowing members to get monetary incentives for organizing their nonunion co-workers. By July 2005, Local 587 had brought in 457 new members, and $18,240 had been paid in incentives. Local 587 BM-ST James Kirkland III presented the Can Do Spirit awards in June. Local 587, a manufacturing, shop, construction, forging, shipyard, and marine lodge, was chartered in 1952 and has represented employees of Lufkin Industries in two of its divisions (trailer and oil) since that time. ❑ CITING MAJOR DIFFERENCES with Sweeney’s leadership and unable to put together enough votes to oust him, three unions opposing the re-election of AFL-CIO President John Sweeney disaffiliated with the federation just as the convention began in Chicago, July 25. The walk-out garnered more press coverage than the AFL-CIO convention generally gets. Conservative pundits jumped at the opportunity to sound a death knell for organized labor, but by the end of the week it was clear that the schism is just another chapter in the long struggle to represent workers. Although the Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers, and Service Employees International Union left the alliance, they and the 54 remaining unions continue to work together in many areas to represent their members and all workers. The need for all unions to work together despite their differences was a continuing theme throughout the convention. The questions that were most pressing involved how unions remaining in the AFL-CIO will interact with the disaffiliated unions. One issue was whether disaffiliated unions will still be able to participate in the central bodies and departments within the AFL-CIO, though they don’t pay dues to the parent union. Then-director of research and collective bargaining services Len Beauchamp, a Boilermaker delegate to the convention, spoke eloquently on this subject, arguing that unions who do not support the AFL-CIO should not be allowed to benefit from the work done by its subordinate bodies. His argument reminded some delegates from right-to-work states of their own “free-riders,” workers who benefit from union representation but who do not pay union dues. Guided by resolutions and amendments passed at the convention, the AFL-CIO’s executive council will be “No free riders,” is the message from former director of research & collective bargaining services Len Beauchamp. addressing this and many other pressing matters over the next few years. Actions emphasize organizing RESOLUTIONS PASSED by the convention emphasized the need to organize more workers, the impact that the changing economy has on unions and workers, and the importance of solidarity in achieving our goals. Amendments to the AFL-CIO constitution expanded the size of the general board, created an executive committee within the executive council, and encouraged strategic mergers of affiliated unions. The AFL-CIO’s merger policy is important for Boilermakers. Because of declining membership numbers, owing largely to plant closings when multinational companies move factories overseas, the Boilermakers have been aggressively pursuing mergers with unions when a merger will benefit the members of both unions. The AFL-CIO policy calls for a panel to investigate merger possibilities and make recommendations by February 2006. Boilermaker delegates made it clear that we do not want the AFL-CIO to dictate to us whom we must or may not merge with. ❑ Illinois governor signs bill protecting right to picket during labor disputes Ill. Gov. Blagojevich (seated) is thanked by AFL-CIO Pres. John Sweeney after signing the pro-worker bill into law at the AFL-CIO Convention. WHILE THE AFL-CIO convention was in session, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) took the opportunity to sign, in front of the nearly 2,000 delegates and guests, a new law that expands the rights of picketers during labor disputes. Blagojevich said the new law was needed because some municipalities have placed restrictions on picketing and free speech. “If hard-working men and women need to march on the street to let the public know about a labor dispute, they should be able to do so without interference,” he said. Sep • Oct 2005 SOLIDARITY the Boilermaker Reporter - 7 Celanese locks out Local 484 members Workers need international support, solidarity from union members and the public to get back in NEARLY 200 MEMBERS of Local 484, Meredosia, Ill., have been locked out by the Celanese Corp. since June 5. Celanese bought National Starch in February 2005. They began negotiations with Local 484 on May 12, setting a June 5 deadline. From the outset, Celanese demanded flexibility changes in the contract language and concessions on health care benefits. On June 2, the company issued a lockout notice and offered their last, best, and final contract proposal. The union asked for a 60-day extension to review information the company had failed to provide earlier, but the company refused and locked out 150 workers on June 5. On June 15, the members voted down the company’s final offer 145 to 2. Paul Craig, secretary-treasurer of Boilermakers Local 484, was frustrated by the process. “We came back August 6 and offered substantial concessions,” Craig said. “They caucused and came back demanding reduction in wages of $6 per hour for helpers, $3 per hour for all others, and elimination of 35 jobs by contracting out the maintenance and shipping departments. We met twice more with a federal mediator with no success.” Area businesses show their support. Community shows support THROUGHOUT THE small town, signs of support and solidarity are prominently displayed in store windows, on lawns, and in vehicles. The majority of local businesses support the locked-out workers. Many also refuse to do business with replacement workers. “The business owners here in town have been supporting the union workers,” said Nancy Dawson, owner of the River’s Edge Barbershop. “We are like family. If I can help in anyway, or any of the merchants here in town, we’re going to be there for them.” Residents are also concerned about the untrained replacement workers conducting dangerous operations within the chemical plant. “I have an issue with these guys who are coming in and working,” said Meredosia resident Travis Davidson, whose brother, Tim, is a locked-out worker. “They are inexperienced . . . they don’t know what they are doing, and if they mess something up, it is us they are affecting. It’s this entire town. How can you do that to a community?” Celanese got a court order to severely curtail picketing or demonstrations of community support outside the plant. The injunction limits the number of picketers to no more than six. Picketers are not allowed to engage Area residents show their support. in any behavior that may be construed as intimidating replacement workers. This includes shouting. “They’ve really gone after our constitutional rights,” said Craig. “Basically all that you are allowed to do is yell out and call them scabs, and that’s even debatable because one of our employees was arrested for calling them an ‘f scab.’ They said that was intimidation and he was arrested for disorderly conduct.” In addition to the injunction, Celanese hired Special Response Corporation to conduct security during the lockout. Employing former law enforcement and military personnel, the company touts itself as “North America’s most trusted specialists in protecting personal property during strikes, labor disputes, and other potentially dangerous workplace situations.” Their security force routinely videotapes any worker at the picket line and asks anyone who visits the picket line for identification. The security force also regularly patrols the streets of Meredosia, videotaping union members and their families in public or even in their own backyards. Steve Floyd, a locked-out worker, has witnessed this tactic firsthand. “For some reason security that Celanese has hired feels the need to come up and videotape our houses, videotape our children in the yard. They are trying to draw a confrontation that they can use against us. We see them twice a day at the minimum. Most of the time it is every three or four hours. We are deadend on both ends, so it’s not like they are just passing through, they are coming down here with a purpose.” To further antagonize the union, the Morgan County Sheriff’s department has made its deputies available to Celanese for $70 an hour to police union members. Tim Davidson, a locked-out worker, shared his frustration. “The Bush administration has our boys in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Davidson said. “They are dying supposedly to protect the freedoms of the American people and the freedoms of the people over there. And yet we can’t get protection here to protest, to picket. Local law enforcement treats us like criminals. They are on Celanese’s payroll. How can they talk about freedom?” This effective flier was made by staff members with a red crayon, a photo from the Boilermaker Reporter, and royalty-free clip art from the Internet. Color copies were then made and distributed to let the public know about the Celanese lockout. John Sullivan (D-Rushville), and president of the Illinois State AFL-CIO Margaret Blackshere. Special guest Anne Feeney, labor singer and hell raiser, provided music. Coordinated by Local 484 member Steve Floyd, the rally was held outside the Meredosia High School on Sept. 5, the three-month anniversary of the Celanese lockout. L-484 President Kelly Street welcomed the political dignitaries to the stage where the governor delivered a message of hope to the locked-out workers: “Fight the good fight because what you’re fighting for is right.” Local 484 member Tim Davidson heads up the local’s leafleting committee. During the rally, he and other Local 484 members handed out copies of the company’s news release in which Celanese boasted that their “operating profit rose significantly to $152 million versus $25 million last year.” Yet, Celanese is trying to drastically reduce the workers’ wages, health care, and other benefits. Talks between Local 484 and Celanese have been stalled since mid-August with no plans to meet again at the bargaining table. Labor Day rally shows support OVER 700 PEOPLE attended a Labor Day rally in Meredosia, Ill., to show their support for the Local 484 members. Speakers included Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), state senators Deanna Demuzio (D-Carlinville) and Steve Floyd, James Surratt, andTim Davidson (l. to r.) at the Labor Day rally. What is the outlook? IT REMAINS TO be seen what the outcome of this struggle will be. Union members are confident that even with replacement workers the productivity of the plant has been severely hamstrung. The outcome may rest on what Celanese’s ultimate goal is. If, as many suspect, the company is attempting to rid itself of the union, it may be willing to tolerate considerable financial losses to achieve that end. For Local 484, the level of solidarity and community support shown in this struggle is inspiring. Such broad and outspoken support is rarely in evidence in U.S. labor struggles; however, to combat Celanese’s tactics and get it back to the bargaining table, it is imperative for Local 484 to draw attention to its struggle and win the support and solidarity of union members and the public internationally. For Paul Craig, it may be a long road ahead. “I don’t know where it is going and I really don’t think the company cares if it ends,” Craig said. “It’s a short-term loss (the company can afford to outwait the union) for a long-term gain (drastic wage and benefit cuts). They want to get rid of the union so workers won’t have a voice. No one will be able to stand up and fight for safe working conditions. You’ll do the work or find another job.” For more info visit www.boilermakers484.org. Donations may be sent to the Boilermakers Local 484 Solidarity & Defense Fund, P.O. Box 258, 300 Main St., Meredosia, IL 62665. ❑ 8 - the Boilermaker Reporter B O I L E PR A MGA EK EI D R JOBS Sep • Oct 2005 Boilermakers build Kentucky’s first coal-fired unit in 15 years Locals 40, 656 work over two million man-hours with no lost-time injuries IN APRIL, EAST Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) dedicated what they call “the cleanest coal-powered unit in Kentucky” at their Spurlock Station in Maysville, Ky. Built by Local 656 members at Alstom Power’s Chattanooga, Tenn., shop, the boiler was erected by ApComPower using members of Local 40, Elizabethtown, Ky. Together they worked over two million hours without a lost-time injury. Construction of the unit produced more than 600 jobs, with more than $20 million a year in annual construction payroll since the project began in 2002. And the members of Local 656 have Sam Holloway, Spurlock Station plant manager, to thank. “It was at Sam’s insistence that the boiler be manufactured in Alstom Power’s shop by Boilermakers,” reported then-Local 40 BM-ST James E. Porter. “Sam Holloway recognizes the dedication and craftsmanship that Local 656 Boilermakers put into their work,” said Bob Gilbert, L-656 president. “On several occasions he met with the members to express his appreciation for the work performed. He has gained their respect.” And Holloway’s insistence to use Boilermakers paid off. Only two leaks were detected when the unit was hydro-tested — one caused by torch, the other in manufacturing — and the three-year job came in accident-free. The 268-megawatt unit — dedicated in April as the E.A. Gilbert Generating Unit — is not only the cleanest unit in Kentucky, but ranks as one of the cleanest coal-powered units in the nation. It uses a cutting edge clean-coal technology known as the Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) process. In a CFB unit, coal is burned at nearly half the temperature of a traditional unit, removing 98 percent of the sulfur dioxide. The process also produces five times less nitrogen oxide than a conventional unit. It will be powered by an estimated 1.2 million tons of coal a year and will produce enough electricity to power the homes in 30 cities the size of Maysville (population 9,100) for an entire year. According to Kentucky Commerce Secretary Jim Host, “The Gilbert Generating Unit is a $400 million investment in the environment, the economy, and the people of Kentucky. This is the face of energy’s future in Kentucky.” The demand for electricity among the station’s member cooperatives is growing at nearly twice the rate of other areas, said EKPC CEO Roy Palk. “The Gilbert Unit helps us meet those growing needs, and does so in a way that minimizes the impact on the environment. And we are supporting Kentucky’s economy.” Last fall, EKPC announced plans to build five combustion turbine peaking units at their Smith Station in Trapp by 2008, plus two more units identical to the Gilbert Unit — one at the Spurlock Station and one in Clark County. “Alstom Power got the contract for Unit 2 and Local 656 members are already hard at work on it,” Gilbert said. “Unit 3 will be booked in September.” That’s what can happen when you deliver the goods — the customer comes back for more. ❑ On hand to dedicate the new unit are, l. to r., IR Mark Vandiver,ApComPower Reg. Mgr. Tom Bode, retired L-40 BM-ST James Porter, plant mgr. Sam Holloway, and SEA IVP Sam May. The crew, l. to r., ground level, George Weise, Jon Shick, Jeff Nunley, Ken Chipp, Jay Case, Mike Turner, James Fiala, Dave Myers, Steve Slovacek, Larry Buhler, Al Koller, and John Papayik; kneeling on truck, Tom Barkey, Bob Struckhoff, Larry Boschen, Jerry Werner, Bobby Holland, Jimmy Davis, Tony Steiger, and Keith Dunstone; and standing on truck, Hugh Keeney Jr., and Al Weatherby. L-27 members build boiler for 1907 steam locomotive Workers use “old-time” boilermaker skills to fabricate unusual firebox shapes MEMBERS OF LOCAL 27, St. Louis, Mo., have completed a new boiler for a 1907 Baldwin steam locomotive at the Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Ill. Working for Continental Fabricators Inc. (CFI), the members had to use “old-time” boilermaker skills in order to recreate the unique firebox shapes. According to CFI representative Dave Myers, our members had to form pieces of metal without detailed drawings or the proper equipment. “The creativity and teamwork displayed on this unusual project shows that modern-day boilermakers continue the ‘can do’ tradition of their forefathers.” “The creativity and teamwork displayed on this unusual project shows that modern-day boilermakers continue the ‘can do’ tradition of their forefathers,” Myers said. “Our men took drawings that showed what the final shape had to be. They then decided the best way to form the complex shapes through trial and error, using their experience and ‘boilermaker eye’ to form the pieces to fit,” Myers said. “In the past, these shapes were forged with tooling that has long ago been scrapped.” It took seven months It took some mighty fine detailed work to combine to complete the boiler. It the wrapper sheet to the throat sheet to the dome weighs 39,000 pounds course joint. and measures nine feet five inches in height, five feet 10 inches in width, and 29 feet eight inches in length. Unlike the original boiler, the new one will be fired by fuel oil, which is much more efficient in cost and handling than coal and wood and more environmental friendly. The 2-8-0 consolidated #401 steam locomotive will be reassembled by museum volunteers — mainly hobbyists and retired railroad workers. When completed in 2007, the locomotive will be used for riding tours at the museum. ❑ Fitting the radial stays between the inner firebox and the outer firebox wrapper sheet was just one of the challenges. Sep • Oct 2005 B O I L E PR A MGA EK EI D R JOBS the Boilermaker Reporter - 9 Boilermakers use new VenteX technology Atmosphere isolation chamber helps reduce outage time IN MOST OUTAGE jobs, all mechanical work in a boiler has to be completed before grit blasting, metal spray, and weld overlay occur. But when Dominion needed to reduce their outage time from 98 days to 70, they hired ApCom Power and the Boilermakers to use a new technology that allows this “dirty work” to take place at the same time as the mechanical work. As a result, they got the job done on time, on budget, and accident free. The new technology is VenteX’s Atmosphere Isolation Chamber (AIC), which isolates the boiler walls from the rest of the furnace, saving time and creating a healthier work site. Having worked with VenteX before on smaller projects, Dominion consulted them during the initial planning stages of their Mt. Storm 2005 spring outage. They wanted to reduce the length of their Unit 2 outage by replacing selected waterwalls at the same time that they metalized existing waterwall surfaces. VenteX suggested using their new AIC design. “This design makes a section of waterwall available to be blast cleaned and metalized as a parallel path activity since the dust and fumes are being drawn out through the use of exhaust blowers,” explained Allen Meadows, project manager for Dominion’s fossil and hydro outage group. “This was the first time we used a system of this size that did not impact other work being performed in the same immediate area.” Working for ApCom Power, Boilermakers installed the AIC at the Mt. Storm Power Station in West Virginia. Since it was the first time the AIC had been used this way, they hit a few snags. “But working with the outage team and VenteX they overcame the problems that became ‘lessons learned’ to improve the process for future outages,” Meadows said. “The utilization of this system was a major contributor in efficiency gains achieved in completing this project. Properly installed and sealed, no dust or metalizing fumes can escape to cause concerns in the boiler.” Keith Ferlin, a 26-year member of Boilermaker Lodge 359, Vancouver, British Columbia, is vice president of technology for VenteX LLC. For the last 10 years, he has used his years of experience as a boilermaker to develop systems to clean air in confined spaces. Ferlin is grateful to Dominion for believing in his equipment and thanks Local 45 Business Manager Frank Hartsoe and all the Boilermaker members on the job for “their hard work that helped to make this project such a success.” Boilermakers from a number of local lodges were involved in the project, including Locals 26, 30, 45, 154, 193, 582, and the NTL. Dominion is one of the largest producers of energy in the U.S. Its Mt. Storm Power Station is located in the rugged Allegheny Mountains of northeastern West Virginia and is the largest coal-fired power station managed by Dominion. These three units can generate more than 1,600 megawatts of electricity — as much in one hour as 160 average homes use in an entire year. ❑ Part of the Boilermakers’ day shift include, front row, l. to r., Jason Maggard, Alan Dunsmore, Ricky Burkhaulder, and foreman Joe West; back row, general foreman Scott Baines, Danny Magee, Scott Bonner, and Glyn Burr. Members of the night shift include, front row, l. to r., Brandon Bolyard, Brian Stair, Tim Shake, Ed Neal, Mark White; back row, Jeremy Stair, Harry Timbrook, Mike Smith, Craig Huffman, and Garrett Rexrode. Alstom Power thanks L-45 APComPower appreciates Boilermakers dedication PLEASE PASS ON my sincerest appreciation to a dedicated and skilled group of Boilermakers working at the Entergy – White Bluff site. Following completion and acceptance of our work replacing coal piping on Unit 2 – “F” mill, the customer realized that other lines from the “B” mill required adjustment and assigned the work to APComPower. The crew had been laid off at four a.m. and was headed to various locations, many out of town. Around noon, you [Don Jones, L-69 BM-ST] started to contact the crew and all of them put aside their plans, and in some cases, turned around after driving four hours, and returned to the job the next night. John White, Terry Brady, Frank Templeton, Don Moltz, Delbart Barker, and Johnny Walker all showed a dedication and commitment to their professionalism as boilermakers. There is no doubt that they did not return to the site simply to earn a paycheck, but are in fact committed to completing the work with the highest level of quality and leaving our customer completely satisfied. They are to be commended. MARK SCHNEIDER Area Construction Manager APComPower Incorporated WE COMPLETED THE major outage on Unit Two this week (Dominion Generation, Mt. Storm Station), seven days ahead of schedule. During the outage, which began February 19, we also performed mini-outages on Units One and Three, and they were both completed within the outage schedule time frames. In addition to improving the outage schedule on Unit Two, we also completed all outages with zero OSHA recordable accidents. Safety is measured by Dominion by OSHA recordable and losttime accidents. You (Frank Hartsoe, L-45 BM) and your membership are to be congratulated for this excellent outage performance. The customer has voiced their satisfaction and appreciation for a job well done. Thanks for the cooperation and assistance you and Rick Owen (L-45 Assistant BM) gave Herb Amburn and his staff. J.C. CLARK, District Manager Alstom Power Note: Boilermakers Local 154 (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Local 193 (Baltimore, Md.), and Local 30 (Greensboro, N.C.) also provided manpower for this outage. Lloydminster Maintenance Ltd. thanks Boilermakers BOILERMAKERS AT OUR SaskPower shutdowns at Shand and Boundary Dam this spring did an excellent job. On one job at Shand where ShaskPower had some issues with material delivery, they commented to me that the only thing that went right on the job was our Boilermaker performance. At Boundary, the Boilermakers continued working in conditions made extremely difficult by the heat. We are also pleased to see the number of younger members starting to show up on our Boilermaker crews. After years of expressing concern about losing a high percentage of the crew to pending retirement, it now appears the Boilermakers are doing a better job than most trades at bringing in new blood. Please pass on our thanks to the Boilermaker members. Thanks also to you (Dale Smith L-555 VP) and Shauna Mitru (L-555 office support staff ) for your help in trying to find enough people. M.L. PETERSON Vice President, operations Lloydminster Maintenance Ltd. E D U C A T IPOANG E& I TDR A I N I N G 10 - the Boilermaker Reporter Keystone Industrial Council members meet Fifteen lodges send representatives to fifth annual conference ON AUGUST 16, representatives of 15 Boilermaker local lodges attended the fifth annual conference of the Pennsylvania “Keystone” Industrial Council. Held at Local 13’s facilities in Newportville, Pa., this year’s conference agenda focused on contract administration. Intl. Rep. Bob Heine Jr., who serves as the council’s business representative, conducted the meeting. Topics included collective bargaining and the labor agreement; contract administration; rights and responsibilities of stewards; and grievance procedures. Highlighting the conference was presentation of the Michael S. Murphy Award for excellence in service. This year’s recipient was Gene Hammer, a trustee for Local 151, Erie, Pa. He was Sep • Oct 2005 How to apply for a Boilermaker scholarship Attendees to the 5th annual conference of the Pennsylvania “Keystone” Industrial Council, August 16, at Local Lodge 13’s hall. honored for his leadership, motivation, and unselfish service to his lodge and union peers. Local 151 member Charles (Chuck) Goodman was also recognized for his six years of outstanding service and dedication as a council leadership committeeman. “It is their (Hammer and Goodman) enthusiasm and commitment, as well as that of the other attendees, that brings results,” Heine said. “As a council, we are committed to using whatever tools and assets we have to educate our members and keep a competitive edge. And we will find the way and means to supply this service to our members.” The Keystone Industrial Council was founded in December 1999 to form unity among the Pennsylvania locals as they work toward common goals. Since its founding date, the council has sponsored a series of training programs for members of its 22 affiliated lodges. ❑ Gene Hammer (l.) and Chuck Goodman, both members of L-151, receive awards for their outstanding leadership and service. MOST holds second project management seminar MOBILIZATION, OPTIMIZATION, Stabilization, and Training (MOST) sponsored its second and third project management seminars in Kansas City, January 17-21 and June 19-24. During the five-day programs, Boilermakers who have been recommended by either a contractor or the union are taught the wide array of skills owners and contractors seek in a project manager. Participants in the second class, shown in the accompanying photo, are (standing, left to right) Les Seydel of Graycor, instructor; Danny Lee Paterson (L-453); Don Hensley (L-69); Collin Hall (L-500); Rick Wright (L-193); Michael Bradley (L-500); Darrell Wright (L-107); Doug Davis (L-83); Trent Jones (L-27); Don Majchrowski (L-85); Douglas Ewell II (L-374); Chris Darnell (L-154); Frank King (L-83); Troy Simerley (NTL); and instructors Chuck Connor of Connor Consulting and Director of Construction Division Dale “Skipper” Branscum. Seated, left to right, are Lynn Kellogg (L-83); Tony Parasiliti (L-85); Steve Burger (L-500); Doug Geres (L-146); Joe Wozniak (L-13); Mark Sadoski (L-85); Brian Nickelson (L-27); and Terry Royce II (L-237). Not pictured are Steve Silversides (L-128) and Donald Brecker Jr. (L-7). Participants in the third project management class are (standing, left to right) Frank Patrick (L-26), Dave Zach (Nooter Corporation), Buddy Hanks (L-45), John Flagg (L193), Dennis Danieu (L-7), Don Sadowski (L-237), Les Seydel (instructor), Andy Euster (L-13), Mike Sheidler (L-85), Gregory Rokuski (L-169), John Mowrey (instructor), Chuck Connor (instructor), Ron Heringhausen (L-85), Stan Curran (L-549), George Carpenter (l-193), Christopher Murphy (L-28), and Jeremy Magnuson (L-647). Seated, left to right, are Richard Padilla (L-242), Bill Lofthouse (L-29), John Rollins (NTL), Dwight Rosin (L-500), Scott York (L-502), David Smith (L-28), Peter Harrington (L-175), Richard Wallace (L-85), and Director of Construction Division Dale “Skipper” Branscum. ❑ Second Project Manager Class, January 2005 Third Project Manager Class, June 2005 ONE OF THE MOST popular benefits of being a Boilermaker is the college scholarship program that helps dependents of Boilermakers get started with their college education. These one-year grants reward the hard work and success of young members of Boilermaker families and encourage members of the next generation of college-educated workers to remember the union advantage. Boilermaker scholarships are open to high school seniors who will be entering their first year of a two- or four-year academic program at a degree-granting, accredited college or university within one year of their high school graduation and who are dependents of Boilermaker members in good standing. A dependent may be a son, daughter, legally adopted child, or other dependent of an active, retired, disabled, or deceased member. Winners are chosen based on a variety of criteria that include grades, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and a written essay on an assigned topic. Applications for the 2006 awards are available after December 15 from your local lodge and will be accepted from January 1 to March 31, 2006. Applications postmarked after the March 31, 2006, deadline cannot be considered. Contact your local lodge to get an application. The International will not mail applications to individuals. Some local lodges have their own scholarship programs. Scholarships are also available through the Union Plus credit card program and some state and regional labor councils. For information on these scholarship possibilities, contact these organizations directly. Sep • Oct 2005 APPRENTIC PA E GCEO IMD P E T I T I O N S the Boilermaker Reporter - 11 Taylor, Beach win Western States competition Seven locals send top apprentices to 18th annual competition JAYME TAYLOR OF LOCAL 242, Spokane, Wash., won the James F. Precht Award as this year ’s top apprentice for the Western States area. Brian Beach of Local 11, Helena, Mont., placed second. Winning the 18th annual area competition entitles Taylor and Beach to compete in the national contest, Sept. 25-29, in Kansas City. Also competing were Miles Coverdale of Local 92, Los Angeles; Esteban Dominguez of Local 101, Denver; Phillip Mortensen of Local 182, Salt Lake City; Travis Hedgers of Local 502, Tacoma, Wash.; and Raymond Eagle of Local 627, Phoenix. Sponsored by the Western States Joint Apprenticeship Committee (WSJAC), the annual competition was held May 22-26 at the Local 92 training facilities. Union judges included Butch Stormo of Local 92, and Local 92 retirees Rex Gillespie and Jim Collins. Three contractor judges also participated: Gary Frankovich of ARB; Craig Chubbuck of Contractor Cargo; and Dick Fletcher of Bechtel. The competition also included presentation of the Greg Streblow Scholastic Award to Travis Hedgers of Local 502 and the Don Lacefield Local of the Year Award to Local 11 Bus. Mgr. Robert Hall. WSJAC Area Coordinator Kyle Evenson sends a special thanks to Local 92 for the loan of their training facilities and to Thomas Morris of Local 92, Otis Edwards of Local 549, and Collins Keisling of Local 4, for their help in conducting the 18th annual James F. Precht Award’s competition. ❑ Contestants in the 2005 Western States Area apprenticeship competition include, l. to r., Miles Coverdale of Local 92, Travis Hedgers of Local 502, first-place winner Jayme Taylor of Local 242, second-place winner Brian Beach (kneeling), Phillip Mortensen of Local 182, and Esteban Dominguez of Local 101. Not pictured is contestant Raymond Eagle of Local 627. Grubb, Sutton win Southeast Area apprentice contest Fifteen local lodges are represented in competition Contestants for the 2005 Great Lakes Area award include, l. to r., Daniel Danner of Local 60, Justin Gustafson of Local 1, second-place winner Carey Kowalski of Local 647, first-place winner George Bryant Jr. of Local 169, Jeremy Lawrence of Local 374, and James Denk of Local 744. Bryant, Kowalski win Great Lakes competition Six locals send top apprentices to annual contest GEORGE BRYANT JR. of Local 169, Detroit, Mich., and Carey Kowalski of Local 647, Minneapolis, Minn., placed first and second in the annual Great Lakes Area Boilermaker Apprentice Program (GLABAP) competition. They will represent their area at the national competition, Sept. 25-29. Also competing at the GLABAP contest May 23-25 were Justin Gustafson of Local 1, Chicago, Ill.; Daniel Danner of Local 60, Peoria, Ill.; Jeremy Lawrence of Local 374, Hammond, Ind.; and James Denk of Local 744, Cleveland, Ohio. “The apprenticeship competition is paramount for the continued success of the Boilermakers’ apprentice program,” said Larry McManamon Jr., GLABAP co-coordinator. “The contests provide the customers and the employ- ers with an upfront view of the product [well-trained journeymen] we offer.” The participants took the OSHA-10 safety quiz and a written exam on related study lessons from 13 different test areas. They also demonstrated their skills in rigging, air-carbon arc cutting, layout, tube rolling, reeving, welding, tools, scaffolding, layout, and hitches. The Great Lakes and Northeast areas hold their annual competitions together, with each area providing their own judges. This year’s contests were held at Local 7, Buffalo, N.Y. Union judges representing the Great Lakes area included Intl. Rep. Tony Palmisano, Tom Bradley of Local 60, Mike Card of Local 169, and Tom Will of Local 647. Employer judges representing the Great Lakes area included Tim Zahnd of Independent Mechanical and Tom Sciarra of RMF Nooter. ❑ JEREMY R. GRUBB (Local 105, Piketon, Ohio) won this year ’s Southeast Area apprentice competition. Jimmy R. Sutton II (Local 453, Knoxville, Tenn.) took second place. They will represent their area in the national competition in Contestants in the SEA competition were Kansas City in September. (l. to r.) Eric S. Olson, L-199; John P. Belfield, This year contestants L-45; William K. Bundy, L-40; Scott Bradshaw, from 15 of the 26 local lodges L-26; Michael P. Vitko, L-433; Craig A. under the Southeast Area Phillips, L-667; Jeremy T. Brown, L-112; Joint Apprentice Committee Travis N. Rogers, L-69; Jeremy R. Grubb, (SAJAC) sent contestants — L-105; Ernest O. Chandler, L-108; Billy J. the most ever. The competi- Woods, L-263; Jimmy R. Sutton II, L-453; tion took place August Gerald J. Calvert, L-83; first-place winner 15-17, taking three days Jeremy R. Grubb, L-105; and second place, because of the number Jimmy R. Sutton II, L-453. of contestants. SAJAC director Mike Peterson uses the competition as a members of 263 were there helping report card for SAJAC. This year, he out wherever they could. Their said, “All the candidates were good commitment to apprentice training is and competition was stiff.” But he made obvious by the outstanding gave SAJAC a “B” grade, because training center they have built. “we always want to leave room They are very proud of it and well should be.” for improvement.” Judges for the competition come Local 263 (Memphis) hosted the from both the union and employers. competition. They also hosted a barbecue for members of SAJAC, con- Employer judges included Bob testants, judges, local instructors and Righter and Jeff Sutherland from their families, and business managers APCom Power, Randall James from from the lodges attending the B&W, Kelly Lykins and Michael competition. Local 263 is famous for McGinn from Enerfab, and Hank Varnum from Central Maintenance. their food. Union judges were Bill Elrod, Peterson praised Local 263 for their Barry Edwards, and Lou Novak, “spirit of volunteerism and unionism.” He said, “From the day we retired International reps., with Steve arrived and throughout the competi- Speed, Camilo Juncal, and Mark Vantion, the local lodge instructors and diver, active International reps. ❑ 12 - the Boilermaker Reporter PA DP E T I T I O N S APPRENTIC E GCEO IM Sep • Oct 2005 W E L D I N G S K I L L S N O Z Z L I N S TA L L AT I O Lodge 359’s Doug Shears measures the shell in the nozzle installation test. Lodge 146’s Andre Moffett cuts a coupon for the welding test. R I G G I N G S K I L L S Lodge 128’s Bryan Hahn signals the crane in the rigging test. Six stories up, Lodge 555’s Dwayne Skoc sets a block in the rigging test. Sep • Oct 2005 APPRENTIC PA E GCEO IMD P E T I T I O N S WAT E R WA L L R E PA I R Z L E O N Nathaniel O’Brien, Local 203, cuts a hole for the nozzle insertion. the Boilermaker Reporter - 13 Local 271’s Stephane LeBlanc prepares to install a pup in the boiler waterwall tube repair test. David Noel, Local 73, works on the waterwall tube repair. Shears continued from page 1 and Brian Mikkelsen. Employer judges were Jerry Desjardins, Marty Albright, and Eric Smith. Institution judges were Ken Bachand, Jim Beauchamp, Glen Bigson, and Ed Hoffman. Written tests covered Boilermaker common core materials, rigging, and the Boilermaker Constitution, bylaws, and Canadian Boilermaker collective bargaining agreements. Four practical tests allowed contestants to demonstrate a variety of skill in welding, waterwall tube repair, nozzle installation, and rigging. In the welding portion of the practical tests, contestants welded one coupon in the flat position and one in the vertical uphand position. Coupons were beveled, welded, and cut according to strict instructions. In the waterwall portion, contestants replaced a section of defective pipe with a 12-inch pup, allowing for a 1/8-inch gap on the bottom joint and 1/16-inch gap at the top. The nozzle installation test required apprentices to install a 16-inch nozzle into a 61-inch by 48-inch shell. Contestants had to measure, cut, and prepare the hole, then install the nozzle. To test rigging skills, the judges required contestants to turn a firetube boiler 90 degrees using a 15-ton Grove crane. Once the boiler was turned, it had to be moved into the boiler house structure using a 4,700 lb. pull tugger. Finally, once inside the boiler house, it had to be rigged up and turned 90 degrees one more time before being lifted. Beatty, Angstadt win in Northeast Six lodges send top apprentices to area competition STEVE BEATTY OF LOCAL 154, Pittsburgh, Pa., placed first in the Northeast Area Apprenticeship Committee’s (NEAAC) 2005 Apprentice of the Year competition, May 23-25. Mike Angstadt of Local 13, Philadelphia, placed second. Both will go on to represent the Northeast area at the national competition in September. Also participating in the BNAAC competition were Robert Cole of Local 7, Buffalo, N.Y.; Joe Dengler of Local 28, Newark, N.J.; Jaimer Henao of Local 29, Boston; and Joshua Klein of Local 237, Hartford, Conn. Northeast area judges included seven union representatives: Intl. Reps. Bob Heine and Anthony Palmisano, L-28 Apprentice Coord. Jack Doherty, retired NEAAC coordinator David Dupuis, retired L-29 BM Larry MacAdams, retired L-7 BM Jack opportunity for our most talented an apprentice of the year competition Multere, and retired L-29 apprentice apprentices to be recognized,” Dupuis into the foreseeable future,” Murphy coordinator Paul Meade. said. “And we look forward to holding added. ❑ Contractor judges included John Cammuso of Babcock Power, John Carey Sr. of Boiler Erection & Repair, Matt Schmitt of the Simakas Brothers Co., and retired contractor James Horkay. Contestants were judged on their knowledge of the International Constitution, referral procedures, agreements, and local by-laws. Hands-on testing checked the competitors’ skills in rope and knot splicing, rigging and signaling, burning, carbon arc cutting, welding, tube rolling, equipment use, and tool identification. Local 7 hosted the competition. Area co-coordinators Jason Dupuis and Stephen Murphy Contestants for the 2005 Northeast Area competition include, l. to r., Joshua Klein were pleased with the results. “We’re excited to continue of L-237, first-place winner Steve Beatty of L-154, Joel Dengler of L-28, second-place the tradition of providing an winner Mike Angstadt of L-13, Robert Cole of L-7, and Jaimer Henao of L-29. PSAAGF EE T IYD 14 - the Boilermaker Reporter Sep • Oct 2005 Boilermakers enhance on-the-job safety MOST drug-screening program utilizes service started by Boilermaker IT TOOK INCLEMENT weather and three days being snowed in his hotel room in Newburg, N.Y., for Boilermaker Gene Elwell, a member of Lodge 13, Philadelphia, to devise a business plan that would enhance job safety for himself and fellow Boilermakers. Inspired by OSHA safety training and pulmonary testing, Elwell’s idea was to provide health and safety screening services to businesses and industries. “I saw a trend in the late 1980s that led me to believe this type of job-safety testing would become bigger than anyone anticipated,” says Elwell. After a few months of investigation, Elwell shared his plan with lifelong friend (they went through grade school and the Air Force together) and fellow unionist, Ed Eckert, a member of the International Union of Elevator Constructors. With Eckert’s experience in the construction industry and Elwell’s time spent as a project manager for some major territories Boilermakers work in, they knew the growth OSHA was gaining. The next step to make the business come to life was to have Elwell get the training necessary to manage the pulmonary testing. “I was working the night shift as a general foreman in a power plant in Delaware, and then I would drive to New Jersey in the morning for my training,” Elwell says. With the two-week training course under his belt, Elwell, Eckert, and three other Boilermakers invested in the men’s new business — American Medical Compliance Testing Inc. They set up an office and hired a physician and salesman, and the rest is thriving history. Soon American Medical Compliance Testing grew to incorporate drug and alcohol screening, OSHA safety training, DNA testing, and post-accident testing among other services. AMC is also working with a laboratory to conduct the first field studies of saliva tests for heavy metals, a procedure that will eliminate the need to draw blood to detect overexposure to lead and other metals. In addition, the business now has multiple offices across the eastern United States, with 30 franchises. Early on, American Medical Compliance Testing worked with MOST, a nonprofit labor-management trust cre- Local 587 emphasizes safety training Safety saves lives, can determine who gets job IN INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION, who works safely may determine who works. More and more owners are hiring only contractors with good safety records, allowing only workers who have been properly trained in safety procedures on the job site. Local lodges around the country are able to provide their members with this necessary training through safety programs developed by MOST — Mobilization, Optimization, Stabilization, and Training — a joint Boilermakermanagement trust. On July 28-29, members of Local 587, Orange, Texas, attended safety training at their hall. The 10-hour course, approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), was repeated over the two-day period to maximize attendance. Local 587 member Willie Craft Jr., a certified OSHA instructor, conducted the classes using slides and hand-outs provided by MOST. Class topics included respiratory protection, scaffold use, rigging safety, and occupational health. Local 587 members earn safety award Second time TTMA recognizes plant for completing over 725,000 accident-free man-hours MEMBERS OF LOCAL 587, Orange, Texas, have received the 2004 Plant Safety Award from the Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association (TTMA) for their safety record at Lufkin Trailers in Lufkin, Texas. Recognized for working 725,000 man-hours without an accident, this is the second time the members have earned this prestigious safety award. TTMA first presented this award to the Lufkin facility in 2000. Local 587 represents 145 members at the trailer plant that employs 270 workers. Plant manager Rickey Guilley credits their safety program for their success. Every new employee must attend a safety orientation. Safety meetings are held monthly and a safety committee performs regular audits of the trailer plant, Guilley said. As an incentive to work safely, employees are given luncheons for every 100 days that they work accident free. After 250 accident-free days, safety awards are presented, such as knives and gift certificates. Pictured with the LufkinTrailers’ plant safety award are, l. to r., plant mgr. Ricky Guilley, L-587 BM-ST James Kirkland,L-587 stewards Brian Willis, Ted Vann, Walter Butler, Dennis Rice, Virgil Reynolds, Bob Love, and Delbert McGuire, with Lufkin Vice Pres. Paul Perez. Local 587 BM-ST James Kirkland III is very proud of the Lufkin Trailer employees. “They work hard to provide a safe workplace and the union stewards should be commended for their team effort in promoting safety,” Kirkland said. Chartered in 1952, Local 587 has represented employees at Lufkin Trailers since the early 1950s. In operation since 1939, Lufkin Trailers manufactures vans, flatbeds, floats, drop frames, dumps, doubles, conventional and spread axles, and specialty trailers. L-587 members attend a MOST OSHA-10 safety class led by Willie Craft. James Kirkland, Local 587 BM-ST, said 40 members attended the MOST/OSHA safety program each day, updating their safety awareness skills. The local offers the classes twice a year. ❑ WORK SAFE TODAY SO YOU CAN COME BACK TOMORROW . ated by the Boilermakers to provide drug testing to the Boilermakers. Though their joint efforts ended for a period, Elwell and his business are now working with MOST again to help ensure Boilermakers have optimal job safety. “Drug testing has and continues to make a difference on the job,” Elwell says. “Over the years, the percentage of positive drug tests has drastically changed for the union — it’s in the single digits. Other companies we’ve been involved with have as high as 20 percent failure rates. I’m proud to say I’m a Boilermaker.” As for the future of American Medical Compliance Testing, Elwell notes they have plans to expand to 900 locations across the country during the next three years. “I want to be the first Boilermaker to ring the bell on Wall Street,” Elwell says. And it looks as though he may get to do just that in the coming years. Until then, he and Eckert will continue to provide the services that are making the jobs of Boilermakers and others safer for everyone involved. ❑ Locals 397, 398 achieve seven-year safety record Patterson-Kelley recognizes workers for safety efforts IN MARCH, MEMBERS OF Local 397, East Stroudsburg, Pa., achieved an unprecedented record for PattersonKelley Co. in the safe operation of their plant, reports Human Resource Manager Michael DeLuca. As a result of their hard work and dedicated commitment to safety awareness, these members worked seven years without a lost-time accident. Northeast Intl. Vice Pres. Sean Murphy was pleased to hear of such a significant recognition for our members. “It is rewarding to see the joint effort for workplace safety between our union members and Patterson-Kelley,” Murphy said. Each week, the members participate in safety discussions and watch videos focusing on home and work-site safety issues. In addition, a safety committee meets quarterly to tour the job site and discuss safety concerns with the workers. The clerical employees, members of Local 398, also participate in the safety awareness program and attend the weekly meetings. Chartered in 1941, Local 397 has represented the workers of Patterson-Kelley since 1942. Chartered in 1980, Local 398 has represented the clerical employees since 1981. The company has two main product lines: water heating equipment to satisfy the heat transfer market, and process equipment to serve the pharmaceutical and food industries. In business since 1919, many of its employees have over 40 years of service. ❑ Sep • Oct 2005 STEW P AA G RE D INDE W S STAR STEWARD Involvement, leadership earn Cunningham recognition AL CUNNINGHAM HAS been a steward ever since he joined the union in 2000. A member of Local 656, Chattanooga, Tenn., Cunningham actively works to sign up new members, raise money for the Campaign Assistance Fund, and support the officers, shop committee, and membership. According to Local 656 LEAP Coordinator Charles Miles, Cunningham is active in the community, too. Local 656 member Al Cunningham is a Star Steward. On Feb. 25, Al was at a local restaurant on his way to work wheeler, and drove to Graysville, got kids myself,” he told them, when he learned that two children Tenn., to help search for the missing “so I had to stop and see if they were missing from the Brayton Moun- children. He stayed until the two needed help.” In nominating Cunningham as a tain area in southeast Tennessee, 40 brothers were found — cold and hunmiles north of Chattanooga. As a new gry, with only minor scrapes and star steward, Miles wrote that “Al’s service to the community and employee at Alstom Power, Cunning- bruises — later that day. Cunningham told a local newspa- the union comes with disregard for ham did not have any vacation time. But that did not deter him. He per that when he heard about the himself. He should be congratulated returned home, loaded his four- search, he skipped work to help. “I’ve for a job well done.” ❑ Local 549 sponsors steward training Members attend grievance and jurisdiction classes THIRTY MEMBERS OF Local 549, Pittsburg, Calif., attended two oneday training seminars at their hall, May 11-12, conducted by International staff members Leonard Beauchamp and Clay Herford. Beauchamp, director of research and collective bargaining services, led a stewards training class on May 11. He outlined the structure of the Boilermakers International union and the services it provides and reviewed the rights and responsibilities of stewards under the NLRA Duty of Fair Representation Act and standards for discipline and discharge. This included the Seven Tests for Just Cause — a commonly accepted test to determine if an employer has used just cause (fair reason) in discipline and discharge cases. Beauchamp also presented tips for all three stages of effective grievance handling — investigation, analysis, and presentation, which Local 549 dispatcher Dale Bilyeu found to be very helpful. “Len gave a very specific outline on what a grievance is, what not to do when asking a member or contractor questions, and what to do in order to win a grievance,” Bilyeu said. Bilyeu also found Herford’s presentation the next day on union history and evolution of the boilermaker Local 549 members participate in a two-day steward and jurisdiction seminar at their hall on May 11-12. craft to be both “informative and sometimes surprising.” Herford, an International representative for the Construction Division, combined the historical overview with a jurisdiction seminar on May 12. Attendees discussed jurisdiction issues for jobs involving boilers (water and steam cycle), heat recov- the Boilermaker Reporter - 15 L-1255 members attend steward class One-day program highlights grievance handling, arbitrations MEMBERS OF LOCAL 1255, Chicago, Ill., have attended a one-day steward training class conducted by International Representative Howard Cole. Held May 6 at an area Holiday Inn, the class covered such topics as the role of a steward, grievance handling, knowing your labor agreement, and arbitration. During the portion of the presentation on the steward’s role, members reviewed duty of fair representation, a checklist for sources of information, steward fact sheets, union representation on the job site, and procedural constraints (time limits). In the grievance portion, attendees analyzed a “poor” and “better” grievance example, and discussed grounds for a grievance, note taking, and the standards of contract interpretation. Then they closely reviewed their collective bargaining agreement, taking special note of the various sections for wages and benefits. The final aspect of the class involved arbitrations, and included definition, standards, panels, objections, brief filing, and a sample award. According to Cole, the attendees all agreed that the class was a learning experience. “They did not know anything about arbitrations and were amazed at the process,” he said. “It (the class) underlined the importance of their initial investigation. Also, grievances filed with a short explanation and the term ‘and all other articles and sections that may apply’ when citing the contract were especially appreciated.” ❑ ery steam generators, combustion turbines and combined cycle units, emission controls, tanks, platforms, catwalks, ladders, and stairs. Local 549 BM-ST J. Tom Baca reports that the participants found the classes to be informative and well planned. ❑ “Len gave a very specific outline on what a grievance is,what not to do when asking a member or contractor questions,and what to do in order to win a grievance.” Attending a steward training class for Local 1255 are l. to r., standing, Juan Hernandez, Roberto Andrade, Manuel Busso, and Ed Wilson; sitting, Ruben Araujo, Richard Rodriguez, and Matthew Lokowski. 16 - the Boilermaker Reporter L O PCAAGL E NI EDW S Sep • Oct 2005 Locals award service pins to members National Transient Lodge GARY SCOTT, VP and bus. rep. of the National Transient Lodge (NTL), reports presentation of pins for continuous years of membership to the following: 30 YEARS – Tommy Tomlin. Sinclair, Leroy Smith, Darrell Sparks, Jennings Wilbur; 25 Y EARS – Timothy Gericke, Robert Gonzales, John Lesko, Jaye Wiggins; 20 YEARS – Barry Catt, Harold Tandy Jr.; and 15 YEARS – Dick Caldwell. Local 1, Chicago Local 549, Pittsburg, Calif. J OHN S KERMONT , BM-ST of Local 1, Chicago, reports presentation of pins for continuous years of membership to the following: 65 YEARS – Robert McDonough; and 30 YEARS – Edward Boruta. J. T OM B ACA , BM-ST of Local 549, Pittsburg, Calif., reports presentation of membership pins to the following: 40 YEARS – Herman Roanhorse; and 30 YEARS – Charles D. Deville, Donald B. Simmons.G.T. Simmons, D.R. Smith, P.R. Smith. Local 374, Hammond, Ind. PAUL M ADAY, BM-ST of Local 374, Hammond, Ind., reports presentation of membership pins to the following: 40 YEARS – Thomas Salakar; 35 YEARS – Harold Hacker, Victor Maggio, John Pope, Richard Traskell; 30 Y EARS – Gary Begle, Terry Boyd, Melvin Coomer, Terry Duzan, Willie Edwards, Raymond Elsberry, Harold Franzman II, Russell Gehlhausen, Daniel Heeke, Richard Klemoff, Colin Lackey, Ronald Mains, Allen Pick, John Pizzuto, Francis Reed, Jeffrey Schrombeck, Larry Seger, Robert Local 697 member receives second kidney Union joins employer and church in sponsoring fundraising dance IF YOU HAVE ANY questions about what it’s like to get a kidney transplant, you should ask Local 697 member Dennis Mellenthin. He’s been through the procedure twice. Mellenthin, 54, a 33-year member of Local 697, Marshfield, Wis., has worked at Felker Brothers since he joined the union in 1972. He received his first kidney transplant at age 18, just three years before he began working at the stainless steel pipe, tube, and fittings manufacturing facility. His second transplant occurred just a few months ago. In high school, Mellenthin learned he had a kidney infection during a yearly physical exam to play football. The infection became so severe that he had to have his kidneys removed at age 18. Luckily his sister, Deb Meidl, was a match. Meidl is now 57 Local 587, Orange, Texas JAMES KIRKLAND III, BM-ST of Local 587, Orange, Texas, reports presentation of membership pins to the following: 60 YEARS – Wilson Trahan; 50 YEARS – Melvin Green; 45 YEARS – J.B. Beckwith, John C. Grove, B.E. Herford; 35 Y EARS – Davis Foreman, James Kirkland, Albert Murray, Leslie Tarter, Billy Terrell, Robert VanWinkle; 30 YEARS – Terry Kirkland; and 25 YEARS – Scotty Grove, Clay Vaughn, Rickey Williams. ❑ TommyTomlin (l.) receives his 30-year membership pin from fellow NTL member Harry Wiseman. L-37 donates welding machine to L-1814 WORKERS AT AVONDALE Shipyard fought a long time for safe work sites and fair pay. When they couldn’t get it on their own, they came to the Boilermakers for help, knowing that it would take the strength and solidarity of a union to achieve their goals. Now that those goals are met, the new members of Boilermaker Local Robert McDonough (r.) receives his 65-year membership pin from Local 1 BM-ST John Skermont. 1814 in Bridge City, La., are reaping the rewards of union membership. In July 2005, they received a welding machine from their sister local — Local 37 of New Orleans. “It’s always a pleasure to see locals working together,” said Charles Fleming, Local 1814 president. “We appreciate Local 37’s continued efforts to work with Local 1814.” Local 1814 represents a significant number of Avondale’s 4,200 workers and will use the machine to help members practice welding techniques. Fleming says that working with Local 37 BM-ST David Hegeman and AIP Dennis King is a “great example of unity.” ❑ Matt Conn, “I would do anything for my brother, and I think most people probably would for a family member.” But transplants are expensive. To help Mellenthin meet the financial costs associated with his second kidney transplant, his family, friends, co-workers, and community members held fundraisers. One of those, a dance benefit last December, was co-sponsored by Local 697, Felker Brothers, and the St. John’s Lutheran Church with the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans When Local 697 member Dennis Mellenthin matching the raised. needed another kidney, his sisters and brothers – funds Mellenthin is completely both biological and union — came through. not out of the woods yet. The antiPhoto courtesy of Dan Young, Marshfield Herald rejection drugs have damaged for several hours two or three times a his joints and he had to have hip and a mother of two. She said she has week, peritoneal dialysis can be done replacement surgery. Although limhad no health problems since donat- at home, so Mellenthin was able to ited by joint pain, he still enjoys garing her kidney. continue working at Felker Brothers. dening and fishing and says the But donor kidneys last only 15 to But eventually a replacement kidtransplant has changed his outlook 40 years on average. Mellenthin’s ney was needed, and in April 2005, on life — a lot. “You don’t have too lasted 24 years before another infec- Mellenthin went through his second good an outlook when you are feeling tion caused it to fail, putting him on live-donor kidney transplant. the way I was,” he said. peritoneal dialysis. This time, it was his younger Adapted from a story by Matt Conn in Dialysis is required at end stage brother Ron, 48, who provided Marshfield News-Herald. kidney failure, when a patient loses the kidney. 85 to 90 percent of kidney function. “It was a real easy decision,” Ron Unlike hemodialysis, which requires told Marshfield News-Herald writer the patient to be hooked to a machine L O PCAAGL E NI EDW S Sep • Oct 2005 the Boilermaker Reporter - 17 Pictured at left: Ready to bike again are Local 667 members LarryThomas (l.) and Sammie Doolittle. Both just finished a two-day, 200mile bike tour in Ohio. Two Local 667 members ride in biking tour Thomas and Doolittle ride 200 miles through the Scioto River Valley AS PEOPLE NEAR retirement age, most think about different ways they can relax — anticipating a time where they can put their feet up and take it easy. But two Local 667 members are thinking of where they can ride next. That’s ride — as in riding a bicycle — not around the block, but on biking tours that cover hundreds of miles. Larry Thomas, a member of Local 667, Charleston, W.Va., since 1978, and Sammie Doolittle, who joined in 1979, are both active field construction workers. Perhaps that’s why they are in such great shape. After all, you would have to be in good shape to ride a bike 100 miles in one day. On May 7-8, they were just two of 3,500 bicycle enthusiasts who participated in the 44th annual Tour of the Scioto River Valley, a twoday, 200-mile bicycle tour from Columbus, Ohio, to Portsmouth, Ohio, and back again. And it won’t be their last tour. The two enjoyed themselves so much they plan to do it again. ❑ Is this your dream retirement home? It reminds one NTL member of his tank-building career LET’S FACE IT, no matter how many years you have been working, you think about when you will retire. But do you know where you will spend those retirement years? Tankies, a nickname given to Boilermaker members who travel across the country building tanks, get to see a lot of things while out on the road. But can you imagine being lucky enough to find your dream retirement home while traveling to that next job? That’s what happened to one tankie, who wishes to remain anonymous, when he came across what he likes to call “a tankie dream.” Imagine living in a tank — I mean house — that will keep the memories of your tank-building career close at hand. Well, maybe this is just a little too close for some of us. ❑ Giving credit where credit is due GUY LAWRENCE, DIRECTOR of art at ENR, took the photo of Joe Maloney featured on page one of Volume 44 Number 3 of the Boilermaker Reporter in the article “ENR recognizes Joe Maloney.” The Men of Maintenance: (l. to r.) Rick Peterson, Jim Szuszkiel, George Lister, Greg Paulhus, Jonathan Firth, Brent Buckingham, Cyril Jenniex, Grant Sawchuck, Barrie Shaw, Gerry Degagne, Harvey Hogarth, and Manny Brautigam. L-D331 members go all out for hospital charity Sales of semi-nude photo calendar raise money for equipment BOILERMAKERS GET DOWN and dirty when duty calls, and when charity calls, some will even strip. A dozen fun-loving Boilermakers from Local Lodge D331, Exshaw, Alberta, Canada, employees of LaFarge Canada, posed for a semi-nude calendar to raise money for the Canmore Hospital Auxiliary. The goal was to print 1,000 “Men of Maintenance” calendars and sell them for $10 each to pay for medical equipment that everyone in the region would use. They had no trouble making the sales. “It was my idea,” said Rick Peterson, a 26-year member of Local D331. “I was watching TV one evening about a little town in the states that raised money this way. I brought it up several times at tailgate meetings during shift change. The guys finally realized I was serious.” Thirteen people volunteered by the end of the day. The photo shoot spanned two Saturdays at the LaFarge Canada plant. The toughest part for the men wasn’t keeping up their nerve to pose nude behind their equipment; it was getting everyone’s schedules arranged to meet together at the same time. LaFarge Canada provided the scenery, but the 12 boilermakers found their own financing for photography and printing. Boilermakers can be creative. Each man designed his own pose, with the equipment he uses every day strategically placed to avoid undue exposure. This led to merciless ribbing, once the calendars were available at local drug stores, newspaper offices, and at the hospital gift shop. Imagine one man sitting bare-chested behind his anvil. The sheer power evident in the photos was evocative: Flames, sharp metal edges, tons of equipment dangling from chains . . . and nothing but a welding mask for protection. The hoots at the Christmas party last year were welldeserved, according to Manny Brautigam, a 17-year member who hastened to add that the real mission was to raise funds for a good cause. “That made all of us feel good about what we were doing,” said one calendar man. The men sold autographed calendars at the Christmas party, and since then they have been called by the names of the months on which they appeared in the calendar — Mr. May, Mr. November, Mr. December. Their wives didn’t have any problems with their husbands posing nude — in fact, they enjoyed participating in the calendars, though several were said to comment the men were crazy. Peterson added one disclaimer, “I can’t be held responsible for any damage caused by a wife to her husband when he comes home after she’s been looking at the calendar all day.” Pat Grayling, immediate past president of the Canmore Hospital Auxiliary, applauds the Boilermakers’ support. “They put forth a tremendous effort, spent a lot of money to accomplish their goal, and we are extremely grateful” she said. The calendar ’s success may bear more fruit. Hearing how well it worked, a hospital auxiliary in Vulcan, Alberta, reported they would approach Boilermakers in that area to see if they have an interest in a similar fundraising calendar. The Exmore Men of Maintenance millwright welders had fun, gave the community something to laugh about, and raised money to extend Canmore Hospital’s long tradition of providing high quality medical facilities for the children and citizens of their community. Another Boilermaker job done well. ❑ 18 - the Boilermaker Reporter SETTLEMENTS Contract Transmittal Reports The following local lodges announce recently-ratified contracts with their employers Local S3 — Quincy, Ill. Local 107 — Milwaukee, Wis. Effective April 30, 2005 to April 30, 2008, for 10 members who manufacture stoves at the C o m s t o c k - C a s t l e S t o v e Company. In operation since 1838, Comstock-Castle is the oldest cooking equipment manufacturer in the U.S. Effective May 1, 2005 to April 30, 2007, for 37 members who perform tank fabrication for the Advance Boiler & Tank Co. Local 5 — New York Effective April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2007, for nine members who are shop employees of Boiler Repair and Maintenance Co., Inc., and effective July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2008, for three members who perform ship repairs for Thomas J. Feeney Enterprises, Inc. Local 13 — Philadelphia Effective April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2008, for three members who do both shop and field work in the oil and gas division of Integra Services Technologies, Inc. Local 112 — Mobile, Ala. Effective Sept. 1, 2005 to Sept. 1, 2007, for 30 members who work for Mitternight Boiler Works. Mitternight designs and guarantees mechanically the following types of equipment: vessels, tanks, heat exchangers, chemical reactors, distillation columns, mixers, dimpled jacketed tanks, halfpiped jacketed tanks, scrubbers for coal-fired power plants, and refinery equipment. Effective Dec. 1, 2004 to Aug. 31, 2007, for members who work at CBI Constructors, Inc.; effective May 1, 2005 to April 30, 2006 for members who work at Harris Tube Services ; effective June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006, for members who work at PSF Industries; and effective May 1, 2005 to May 1, 2006, for five members who work at Western Steel Manufacturing. Local D234 Negotiating a three-year agreement for Local D234 at Ash Grove Cement are, l. to r., IR Michael Atchison, Wes Kent, Richard Vaughan, Marshall Wheatley, and J.R. Wayas. Effective Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2006, for members who work at the Bastian Co., a manufacturer of recognition and identification products, such as lapel pins, key tags, and belt buckles, that are sold through promotional products distributors. Local D234 — Inkom, Idaho Negotiating a two-year agreement for L-112 at Mitternight are, sitting, l. to r., Norbert Long, Walter McRae, Curtis Brooks, and Dennis King; standing, l. to r., Nick Meriwether, Perry Holmes, and Marc Hays. Local D132 — Lee, Mass. Effective June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2008, for members who work at Oldcastle Stone Products, where they produce cement mixes, sand, stone, and gravel products. Negotiating a contract for Local D66 at National Gypsum are, l. to r., Elmer Totten, Jessie Lara, Robert Carpenter, Jacqueline Mitchell, and Paul Steburg. Local 182 — Salt Lake City Local 112 Local M18 — Buffalo, N.Y. Local D66 Sep • Oct 2005 Effective Aug. 1, 2004 to July 31, 2007, for 48 members who work at the Ash Grove Cement Co., producing portland and masonry cements for the construction of highways, bridges, commercial and industrial complexes, residential homes, and a myriad of other structures fundamental to America’s economic vitality and quality of life. Local D277 — Bamberton, British Columbia Effective Nov. 1, 2004 to April 30, 2007, for 77 members who produce high quality portland, blended, and specialty cements and construction materials for Lehigh Northwest Cement Limited, formerly known as Tilbury. Local 146 — Edmonton, Alberta Local 443 — Manitowoc, Wis. Effective Feb. 1, 2005 to Jan. 31, 2008, for members who work at TIW Western, Inc., suppliers of oil field steam generators, heat recovery steam generators, air cooled heat exchangers, oxygen reactors, and large diameter shell and tube heat exchangers. Effective Nov. 1, 2004 to Oct. 31, 2009, for two members who work at Lakeside Maintenance, and effective April 30, 2005 to May 2, 2010, for 146 members who build Manitowoc, Groove, and Potain cranes for the Manitowoc Crane Group. Local D66 — Fort Dodge, Iowa Local 154 — Pittsburgh, Pa. Local 480 — Jacksonville, Ill. Effective June 16, 2005 to June 16, 2008, for 42 members who work at National Gypsum Co ., a fully integrated manufacturer and supplier of building and construction products worldwide. Effective Dec. 1, 2004 to Nov. 30, 2009, for 25 members who work at the Allegheny Boiler Tube & Manufacturing Company/AB Tech; effective Feb. 1, 2005 to Feb. 1, 2006 for 10 members who work at Apex Maintenance, Inc .; and effective Nov. 1, 2004 to Oct. 31, 2009 for 32 members who work at Munroe, Inc ., a supplier, manufacturer, and distributor of replacement boiler tube components and parts for economizers, superheaters, waterwalls, headers, generating tubes, and reheaters. Effective May 21, 2005 to May 21, 2008, for 253 members who produce cooking and food oil at A C H F o o d Companies, Inc. Name brands include Argo Starch, Karo Corn Syrup, Mazola Corn Oil, and Bake Rite and Mrs. Tucker shortening and oils. Local 83 — Kansas City, Mo. Effective June 1, 2005 to June 1, 2008, for 13 members who work on underground and surface gasoline and oil storage tanks for We-Mac Manufacturing. Local D100 Local D100 — Cupertino, Calif. Effective March 1, 2005 to Feb. 28, 2008, for 29 members who work at the Hanson Cement Co. Local 106 — Cincinnati Effective February 1, 2005 to January 31, 2008, for members who work at the Joseph Honhorst Company. Effective October 17, 2004 to October 16, 2007, for eight members who make steel plates at Prime Plate Industries. ❑ Students learn negotiating Workshop teaches students about unions and collective bargaining Negotiating a three-year agreement for Local D100 at Hanson Cement are, l. to r., George Mears, IR Michael Atchison, and Michael Martinez. Local 2000 — Chester, Pa. ILLINOIS IS PRO-UNION. If you don’t believe it, consider this: The Illinois school code mandates labor education. Not many states can make that claim. In Peoria, teachers have used this mandate to create hands-on workshops so that high school students can learn how collective bargaining agreements are negotiated. “We bring about 150 local high school students to the Laborers (Local 165) Hall and have them roleplay contract negotiations,” said Tom McLaughlin, field representative for the Illinois Federation of Teachers. “They negotiate a successor agreement to an existing contract.” History and economics teachers at the four public Peoria high schools begin the process in their classes. The teachers introduce labor history, including notable figures in the labor movement. Just prior to “negotiation day,” the teachers pass out material to the students explaining a contract scenario and the issues the union wants and management wants. The students do not know until negotiation day which side they will represent. On negotiation day, the students split into groups of six with an equal number of groups for labor and management. Since the six-person groups include students from all four schools, the groups spend time together studying and discussing the scenario, then formulate a negotiation plan. Each side confronts four unresolved issues. Two facilitators guide each group and help them arrive at an agreement. The foundation of negotiations is a willingness to arrive at an agreement, so all the facilitators urge the students to spend time listening to the other side. McLaughlin said the exercise has value even if the students never sit on a negotiation committee. People negotiate throughout their lives. “They can use this knowledge when they buy a house or a car,” he said. And of course, it gives them a head start to becoming local lodge leaders. Adapted from an article by Chris M. Stevens in The LABOR Paper. Sep • Oct 2005 SETTLEMENTS the Boilermaker Reporter - 19 Emerson Tool workers lose jobs to Mexico S699 negotiates last contract for vacuum cleaner manufacturer moving to Mexico to increase profit IN A TRAGEDY too often repeated across the United States today, about 150 Boilermakers at Emerson Tool Company’s Menominee, Mich., plant are reporting to work knowing their jobs will soon be shipped to Mexico. The union workers, about 90 percent women, are members of Local Lodge S699. Many have worked at the Menominee plant for decades, making Sears Craftsman ™ and Ridgid ™ brand vacuum cleaners, humidifiers, and other products. Pay rates average $9.20 per hour for jobs that include injection molding operations, assembly, machining, shipping, and related functions. In Mexico, Emerson can get workers for 85 percent less. Last September, Emerson Tool announced that the plant would be permanently shut down, with operations moving to a new plant in Reynoso, Mexico — even though the plant was operating at a profit. “We did not see it coming,” said Joyce Allgeyer, lodge president. “The plant closing shocked everyone. We were in disbelief.” The union appealed to the company to reconsider and offered to take wage cuts. Area politicians and civic leaders offered their assistance. However, the company replied that the facility was out of date and the transportation resources inadequate. They would not consider keeping the plant open. Because of lower wages and less strict environmental regulations, it is cheaper to build a new plant in Mexico than to retool the one that has been in Menominee for over 100 years. A plant has been on the Menominee site since 1892, when Menominee Electric and Mechanical Company made crank telephone generators and later telegraph instruments, motors, and hand tools at the site. Easing the way out the door FACED WITH A CLOSING, the first priority for the union is to negotiate the best exit agreement possible. International Representative Len Gunderson said the bargaining committee put on a brave face, knowing that the company held all the cards. “They could have shut the plant down at any time if they didn’t get what they wanted,” he said. “They didn’t have to give us anything, and they didn’t give us much.” Gunderson said the committee “worked their hearts out,” in an extraordinarily tough situation. “In normal contract negotiations, you may make some concessions, knowing that maybe you can get something back the next time. In plant closing negotiations, you know it’s all over, and there won’t be a next time.” One minor victory for the union was a severance package that will pay fulltime, active employees a $500 lump sum upon termination or layoff and $230 for each year of employment. Members of the Lodge S699 negotiating team (l. to r.) Joyce Allgeyer, Keith Peterson, and Michell Beardsley did all they could — they negotiated a good exit package for members. Other provisions include a lump sum payment upon ratification of the agreement, continued company payment of its portion of medical premiums for one month after termination, permission for workers to cash in unused vacation time upon termination, and job-hunting assistance from the company, including letters of recommendation, help with resume preparation, and coordinating employment assistance with local and state government organizations. Emerson also agreed to rehire laidoff terminated union workers if the company opens a new plant within 20 miles of the Menominee location within five years of ratifying the plant closing agreement. For these considerations, the company got a promise by the union to maintain production levels, to cooperate in the orderly shut-down of the plant, and to file no grievances or legal actions in connection with the plant closure. The union also agreed to allow temporary workers to fill vacancies created by Boilermakers who leave early to take new jobs. Preparing for the aftermath FOR EACH LOCAL S699 member, deciding what to do about the future is an entirely personal matter. Age, health, and family situations all factor in to each decision. Some two dozen members have already left Emerson Tools to take jobs with other employers. Others have no place to go, such as Art Woodward, 56, who has been a Boilermaker and set-up man for Emerson Tools for 37 years. After three heart attacks, he is on a 10-pound weight limit restriction. “When they shut the doors, I’m done,” he said. “There’s not a company in the world that’s going to offer me a job.” Woodward said that to get by he will have to rely on an Emerson Tool pension of $340 per month, plus Social Security disability. Ironically, his wife, Renee, is one of the temporary employees hired by Emerson. Not long ago, she went through a plant closing herself, with another employer in the area. When the Menominee plant closes, she will be out of work once again. Credit NAFTA with moving more jobs south WHEN THE PLANT closes, Local S699 members will qualify for federal assistance through the NAFTA Trade Adjustment Assistance program, or NAFTA-TAA. IR Gunderson stated that those benefits have already been applied for and approved. The program offers up to 52 weeks of extended unemployment benefits, paid training and education during those 52 weeks, payment of 65 percent COBRA medical costs, and an income supplement for those 50 or older who cannot find a job that pays as much as what they were making prior to the plant closing. The NAFTA-TAA assistance only kicks in once an employee receives a formal notice of layoff or termination. Local S699 members have dealt with NAFTA-TAA before, in 2002, when the company moved the Ridgid vacuum cleaner line to a plant in Canada, laying off about half the workforce. Canada’s wages are similar to Michigan’s, but Canada’s universal health care relieves employers of much of the burden of providing health care coverage for their employees. Not surprisingly, Local S699 employees and their supporters feel betrayed by Emerson Tool. Relations with the company over the years had, overall, been good. Woodward, the motor line steward, said union employees “worked their buns off” to help the company make the Ridgid vacuum transition to its Canada facility in 2002. “Then they come back . . . later and tell us that our building is too old and they are going to close the plant. It’s a pretty low deal.” Woodward, a Vietnam veteran, said he has roots in Menominee and a home, and he doesn’t want to leave. He is disappointed with the severance package. “Two hundred thirty dollars a year is not much. For me it amounts to about $9,000 before taxes . . . for 37 years of service.” “The tragic part of this is that it’s just greed,” said Gunderson. “Emerson Tool is a profitable company. They know they can go to Mexico and pay people a couple of dollars an hour to do the same work . . . and since Mexico has universal health care, the company won’t even have to pay for employee health care insurance.” Gunderson said the union has bent over backwards and negotiated flexibility into their contracts to help the company stay competitive over the years. Despite the company’s assertions that it wanted to grow operations at Menominee, they were really planning an exit strategy all along, he stated. Lodge President Joyce Allgeyer said the union had felt uneasy about the direction the company was going during the last regular contract talks in 2002. “I spoke with a union leader from a different local who told me that one of the signs that a company is planning to leave is that they ask for a one-year contract. We had been working with Emerson Tool on a three-year contract, when half way through they asked for a oneyear deal. I asked them if they had plans to close the plant. They denied it. I wish they had been more honest with us.” Gunderson summed up the Emerson Tool plant closing as follows: “If we are to learn anything from this process, it is that you need to understand your company. Take nothing for granted. Be aware of what they are doing in the background. My hat goes off to the members of Local S699. They fought a hard and honorable fight. Unfortunately, they were up against an dishonorable opponent.” ❑ 20 - the Boilermaker Reporter M E M BP EARG B E E IND E F I T S Sep • Oct 2005 Union Plus Education Services ber, along with the name of their international union, on a postcard to: Union Plus Education Foundation, c/o Union Privilege, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, DC 20043-4800. Union Plus National Labor College Scholarship — Earn your Bachelor of Arts degree while continuing your trade union work. Each year, the Union Plus National Labor College Scholarship awards a total of $25,000 to eligible students attending the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md. To learn more about the college degree program, visit www.georgemeany.org. To request a scholarship application, call the National Labor College Office of Student Services at 301-431-5404. Loans LOANS Unlock a world of education opportunities T HE EVER-SOARING cost of college tuition and vocational/ technical training can make the goal of earning a diploma and getting a better job seem out of reach. That is why the Union Plus Education Services program provides working families with a wide-range of educational assistance. Scholarships TWO SCHOLARSHIP programs are available through the Union Plus Education Foundation: Union Plus Scholarship — Awards ranging from $500 to $4,000 are granted to recipients. Applications are available each year beginning Sept. 1. Union members, spouses, and dependent children are encouraged to apply. Members can visit www.unionplus.org/scholarships for an application, or they can send their name, address, and phone num- Available to students attending accredited colleges and universities, these loans pay for tuition, room and board, books, fees, computers, and other expenses. To apply online or receive financial aid counseling, members can call 1-877-881-1022 or visit www.unionplus.org/education. CONSOLIDATION LOANS Juggling multiple loan payments can be overwhelming. With a federal consolidation loan, all your federal loans can be consolidated into one easy, lower payment — which means more cash in your pocket. Just one call to 1-800-338-5000, can put you on the road to an easier financial future. EDUCATION PLANNING To help students prepare for college entrance exams, determine where they should go to college, how to pay for college, and make sense out of the FAFSA financial aid application process, have them visit www.unionplus.org/education or phone 1-877-881-1022. ❑ A N OT I C E TO E M P L OY E E S S U B J E C T TO U N I O N S E C U R I T Y C L AU S E S EMPLOYEES WORKING under collective bargaining agreements containing union security clauses are required, as a condition of employment, to pay either monthly dues or fees to the union. This is their only obligation to the union, regardless of the wording of the clauses. Individuals who are members of the Boilermakers pay monthly dues. Individuals who are not members pay fees. These dues and fees, which are authorized by law, represent your fair share of sustaining the broad range of programs offered by the Boilermakers in support of you and your fellow workers. The most important job right you can have is the right to collective bargaining. The working conditions of all bargaining unit employees are improved immeasurably when the union gains higher wages, better health care and pensions, fairness in the disciplinary system, overtime pay, vacations, and many other improvements in working conditions at the bargaining table. Because they negotiate together through their union, employees who are represented by a union typically receive higher wages and better benefits than nonunion workers doing similar jobs in the same industry. Strength in numbers is what makes this possible. The stronger your union, the better your contract. We urge all employees to participate and become part of your labor organization. An objecting nonmember who is subject to a union security clause has a legal right to file objections to funding expenditures which are not germane to the collective bargaining process. Fee-paying nonmembers who choose to file such objections should advise the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers in writing, in the form of a letter, signed by the objector, and sent to the International SecretaryTreasurer of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, 753 State Ave., Suite 565, Kansas City, KS 66101. The letter must contain the objector’s home address and local lodge number, if known. Upon receipt of the objection, the International President shall provide a description of the procedures to be followed. This objection must be filed every year during the month of November, or within the first 30 days in which the objector is required to pay dues or fees to the union, or within 30 days after the objector becomes a nonmember. Examples of expenditures germane to the collective bargaining process are those made for the negotiation, enforcement, and administration of collective bargaining agreements, meetings with employer and union representatives, proceedings on behalf of workers under the grievance procedure, arbitration proceedings, servicing the bargaining units that we represent, internal union administration, and matters related to these activities. Examples of expenditures not germane to the collective bargaining process are those made for political purposes, for general community service, for charitable activities, for non-worker related legislative activities, for members-only benefits, and for certain affiliation costs. In considering these matters, you should be aware that only members have the following rights: • to vote on the terms of your collective bargaining agreement • to participate in the development of contract proposals • to nominate and vote for local union officers • to attend the International Convention as a delegate • to participate in strike votes • to numerous other benefits available only to members, such as those described above and at right. It is clearly to your advantage to continue to be a full, active member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers. Only through unity and solidarity can we better our working conditions and reap benefits for ourselves and our families. ❑ Money-Saving Programs for Members Only The benefit programs listed below are available only to Boilermaker members and their immediate families.* Union Plus Credit Card Call: 1-800-522-4000 Mortgage & Real Estate Also open to children & parents of Boilermaker members. Call: 1-800-848-6466 Education Services Get expert advice on funding sources for college and job skills training. Call: 1-877-881-1022 Personal Loans Credit-qualified members are eligible for loans for a variety of uses. Call: 1-888-235-2759 Legal Service Discounted legal help — first 30 minutes are free. Visit: www.unionplus.org Life Insurance For members, spouses, and children. Call: 1-800-393-0864 Auto Insurance Call: 1-888-294-9496 Accident Insurance Call: 1-800-393-0864 Health Savings Save on prescription medicines, hearing, dental, and vision care. Call: 1-800-228-3523 Car Rental Discounts Call and give the ID number: Avis: 1-800-698-5685 AWD #B723700 Budget: 1-800-455-2848 BCD#V816100 Union-Made Checks Call: 1-888-864-6625 Cingular Wireless Discounts Call: 1-888-356-9752 Union Plus Moving Services Call: 1-800-593-2526 For information on these programs and other member-only benefits, go to www.unionplus.org *Retired members are eligible. Some programs are not available to members outside the continental United States, and not all programs are available in all states. Phone 1-800-452-9425 for clarification of eligibility. Sep • Oct 2005 LEAP ISSUES the Boilermaker Reporter - 21 Bill eases way for Union jobs are better Canadian Boilermakers Post-9/11 security slowed MOST program that brought Canadians to U.S. jobs IN THE LATE 1990s, when work was so plentiful, some U.S. construction lodges had difficulty finding enough qualified Boilermakers to man all of their jobs. The Mobilization, Optimization, Stabilization, and Training (MOST) office worked with the Department of Labor to expedite approval of work visas for our members from Canada. That program worked well. Canadian Boilermakers were able to get union work in the U.S. at a time when things were slow for construction Boilermakers in Canada. In return, U.S. lodges could confidently send the Canadian Boilermakers to a job, knowing they were highly-skilled, well-trained, workers with good work ethics. The alternative would have been to man the job with members of other unions or with nonunion “permit” workers, whose skills, training, and work ethic are always subject to question. After the 9/11 attacks, border security tightened, and work visas weren’t as available. That was okay while work was slow, but over the next five years construction Boilermakers expect work to pick up in all regions of the U.S. Business managers are looking at ways they can increase their access to qualified Boilermaker members. In an effort to bring back this successful MOST program, the Boilermakers’ government affairs department has been working with Congressmen Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) on a bill that will help Boilermakers in such critical industries as power plants, oil refineries, and steel mills get H-2b visas. They have now introduced such a bill, H.R. 3644. Only a limited number of H-2b visas are made available each year for workers seeking temporary employment in the United States. In recent years, these have been taken by other industries, depriving Boilermaker lodges of a valuable source of skilled Boilermakers. H.R. 3644 will fix that and help us put construction Boilermakers on jobs vital to our economy. The department of government affairs asks all Boilermakers to urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 3644, allowing us access to the skilled Canadian members we need to man our jobs. ❑ Bush suspends wage guarantees in areas hit by storm JUST TEN DAYS after Katrina cut its terrible path through the Gulf Coast, President Bush announced that he was suspending application of DavisBacon. This federal law guarantees that workers on federally-funded jobs must be paid the prevailing wage in that area. His order covers contracts in the Hurricane Katrina-damaged areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. The Bush administration said it has the power to suspend the law because the hurricane has caused a “national emergency.” A press release explained that suspending the law “will result in greater assistance to these devastated communities and will permit the employment of thousands of additional individuals.” The president’s action infuriated labor leaders, who said suspending this wage guarantee will lower wages, make it harder for union contractors to win bids, and open the door for construction companies to use poorlytrained, unskilled workers. Davis-Bacon is often attacked by people who claim it raises costs, but an ongoing study by professors at the University of Utah shows that the opposite is true. When state-level prevailing wage laws are relaxed, they show, jobs take longer and require more repairs, resulting in higher costs. Presumably, these problems are caused by the fact that workers willing to accept wages below the average for an area tend to be less skilled and/or less experienced than those who expect the prevailing wage. The Davis-Bacon Act only covers federal contracts. Suspension of the law will allow contractors to pay lower wages and still get federal emergency repair money. AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney denounced the Bush announcement as “outrageous.” “Employers are all too eager to exploit workers,” he said. “This is no time to make that easier. What a double tragedy it would be to allow the destruction of Hurricane Katrina to depress living standards even further.” Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, accused Bush of “using the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to cut the wages of people desperately trying to rebuild their lives and communities.” Prevailing wages are determined for each craft by the Department of Labor from reports filed by employers and labor unions. In New Orleans, the prevailing wage for general construction labor is only $9 an hour, according to Miller. “In effect,” the congressman said, “President Bush is saying that people should be paid less than $9 an hour to rebuild their communities.” ❑ COLLECTIVE BARGAINING can make a big difference in workers’ lives. A larger percentage of union workers receive benefits than their nonunion counterparts and are more likely to receive such benefits as education, paid holidays and vacation, and life insurance. 100% 92% 88% 87% 90% 80% 73% 68% 67% 70% 56% 61% 57% 60% 43% 50% 37% 40% 26% 30% 20% 10% 0% Health Care Retirement Benefits Prescription Short-Term Dental Care Disability Drugs Vision Care Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, AFL-CIO CAFTA passes Trade pact applies to five Central American countries THE HOUSE OF Representatives passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) by a vote of 217-215 just after midnight on July 28, in a dramatic finish to a tough battle. The vote had been called late on July 27, but when the time limit arrived at 11:17 p.m., “no” votes outnumbered “yes” votes by 180 to 175, with dozens of members undeclared. Ordinarily, when the vote clock reaches zero, the speaker of the house gavels the vote over. But this bill was too important to the White House for that to happen. House Republican leaders kept the voting open for another 49 minutes while they scrambled to get more votes, twisting arms and whatever else needed twisting to get the bill through. The final tally saw 15 Democrats join 202 Republicans to vote “yes,” while 27 Republicans joined 187 Democrats and one independent to vote “no.” “This win sends a powerful signal to the region and the world that the United States will continue to lead in opening markets and leveling the playing field,” said Rob Portman, the U.S. trade representative, in a statement issued immediately after the vote. But opponents say there is no level playing field. Worker advocates contended that it is wrong to strike a freetrade pact with poor countries lacking strong protection for worker rights. The five countries joining the U.S. in this pact are Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Worker-advocacy groups in all six countries opposed the agreement. Anti-CAFTA demonstrations became violent in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, where government forces killed at least two protestors. Central American workers oppose the pact because they believe it opens the door for American corporations to exploit their workers. The combined population of our five CAFTA partners is 37 million people, but their combined gross domestic product (GDP) is only $67 billion, with two out of three people living in poverty. By comparison, Wal-Mart, a company that expects to benefit greatly from CAFTA, had sales of almost $290 billion in 2004 — more than four times the GDP of all five countries. Workers believe that CAFTA is unlikely to do much to help U.S. businesses export goods to a region where the average income is less than $2,000 a year. It is far more likely to allow multinational corporations in the U.S. to close factories here and reopen them in Central American countries like Honduras, where factory workers make less than $30 a week. ❑ CEO pay is 431 times workers’ pay THE YEAR 2004 was good to America’s CEOs, but not so good for workers, according to a new study from the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) and the United for a Fair Economy (UFE). In large corporations, the average CEO-to-worker pay ratio jumped from 301-to-1 in 2003 to 431-to-1 in 2004, according to the report, Executive Excess 2005. To put that in perspective, it means that the average worker needs to work one full year of 40-hour weeks, plus January through August of the next year, in order to earn what the CEO earns in a single day. Pay for defense contractors led the way, doubling since 9/11. The average CEO made $11.8 million in salary and bonuses in 2004. ❑ IN MEMORIAM 22 - the Boilermaker Reporter Sep • Oct 2005 WITH DEEP SORROW the International Brotherhood records the death of these members as reported to the International Secretary-Treasurer’s office, and extends its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved families. LODGE & NAME Intl. NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 9 10 10 10 10 Heninger, Pearl Ames, Robert Brunson, Hoyt Claypool, Walter Cunningham, Paige Daniels, Eddie Darick, Warren Hall, Clifton Holler, Gerald Jacobson, Clifford Krumrei, Thomas LaRue, William Longan, Ronnie Payne, Hollis Robbins, Sigley Roy, Eugene Thomason, Wilburn Tricarico, John Van Camp, Benjamin Wood, Stanley Andrews, George Andrews, Harold Caballero, Alfredo Foreman, James Grenko, Edward Pikkula, George Priesol, Emil Robitske, Stanley Soifer, Albert Starritt, Barney Vanderhout, Justy Wheatley, Joseph Binger, Michael LaFemina, John McDonald, Wade Mulligan, Joseph Nostrom, William Zupancic, Anton Allen, James Asperger, John Burns, Ernest Curtis, Don Daly, Thomas Fahien, Hazel Fontana, Emilio Green, Norman Hidalgo, Adolph Higgins, Edward Montes, Manuel Pennington, Lorn Reno, Gilbert Ridge, Vernon Smith, Glen Smith, John Tagata, Faaliliu Vargas, Gilbert Barrowman, Glenn Borzelleri, Francis Vanderlee, Joseph Byrnes, John Baird, Edward Brown, Elwood Cottrell, Lonnie Reynoso, Dario Name 11 13 13 13 26 26 26 26 26 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 28 28 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 37 37 37 37 37 39 40 40 40 40 45 45 45 60 60 69 69 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 72 73 Roeber, Brent Haggar, Arthur Mulhollan, Clair Sieklicki, Florian Drawdy, John Hickox, F.G. Miller, Barnie Preetorius, Charles Smith Jr., George Albright, Joseph Altnether, Albert Dennis, Marvin Glickert, Charles Hoch, Ralph Holtz, Stanley Lampe, Joseph Long, Adrain Mitchell, Joseph Robison, James Sapino, Joseph Thurmond, Oliver Watkins, Larry Grasso, Frank Reck, Kenneth Balestrieri, Edward Kurtz, Leslie McCue, Dennis McMullen Jr., Daniel Pepin, Kip Ryan, Joseph Tompkins, William Votta, Joseph Atwell, James King, William McKinney, Earl McLeod, Lou Boos Sr., James Colombel, Robert Mancuso, John Pardo, Anthony Picouo, Elliott Vargo, John Barnes, Thomas Bidwell, Jason Moore, Johnny Slone, Billy Casey, James Jasko, Andrew Wimberley, Obed Bosnich, Mitchell Simmons, Troy Erwin, Henry McKinnon, Freeman Aasby, George Andrews, Earl Campbell, Harold Carroll, Michael Cousins, Charles Etlinger, Abe Forbes, Clifton Kent, George Manley, Harold Useldinger, John Winter, Lerlow Osborne, Robert 74 74 74 74 74 74 74 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 83 84 84 85 85 85 85 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 92 101 101 101 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 105 105 105 105 105 105 S105 106 D106 Beaty, Andrew Givens, Jerry James, Jimmy Kaiser, Alvy McDaniel, Charles Spires, Joe Thomas, Marion Cleveland, Doss Duckett, Harold Ehlinger, Loren Gruttemeyer, Richard Hallam, Billy Hart, Orville Owens, Clent Paulson, Herschell Russell, Thomas Dicke, Henry Lickteig, Harley Denman, Russell Howard, Joe LaPlant, James Nobles, Danny Carroll, Claude Jeffery, Elmer Jernagan, Harold Louviere, Robert McGinnis, Noel Peleschak, Peter Reyes, Abel Sahagun, Victor Silva, Victor Thomas, Clifford Zaro, Ambrose Hoffman, Seth Shea, Marion Tracy, Keith Allen, John Anderson, Walter Bonine, James Carey, Charlie Culhane, John Duke, Cecil Ferguson, Anthony Gager, Lavar Gilcrease, John Glasson, Eugene Grage, Herbert Kennard, John Miller, John Mitchell, William Sestrich, John Spradling, Robert Stoddard, Kay Taylor, Cecil Wake, Marvin Wiggans, Donald Brumfiled, John Harper Jr., Maxie Kingery, Floyd McDavid, Patrick Potter, Jesse Smith, Kenneth Yocum, Earl Burton, Elbert Fuller, Dennis Moving? Tell us where . . . 111 Stokes, Walter 112 Ates, Joseph 112 Erkhart, John 112 Stagner, Paul 113 Lowe, LaVerne 113 Lowe, Opal 117 Back, Harley 117 Rogers, Michael 124 Ellis, Raymond M128 Molina, Larry M128 Peak, Al 132 Woods, Billy 137 Seward, Clifton 146 Benoit, Paul 146 Carlson, John 146 Connell, Steve 146 Finch, Michael 146 Houghton, Joseph 146 Larose, Harvey 154 Eaton, W.H. 154 Koches, Thomas 154 Marsteller, Russell 154 McGinnis, Robert 158 Sherman, Harold 159 Randazzo, Joseph 169 Bailey, Floyd 169 Dyer, John 169 Hetherington, Leonard 169 Qualis, Willis 169 Stewart, David 169 Valentine, Robert 174 Becker, Clarence 174 Goytowski, Barney 177 Nohr, Wesley 182 Alt, Raymond 182 Cole, James 182 Gibson, Norman 182 Sundquist, Paul 193 Coster Sr., Donald 193 Dial, Daniel 193 Husarik, Stephen 197 DeVivo, Emidio 197 Jamieson Jr., William 197 Weaver, John 199 Aton, David 199 Payne, Gregory 204 Igarashi, Shungo 204 Pagaduan, Elvis 212 McGuire, John 242 Cherry, Lemuel 242 Ciferri, Ross 242 Purrington, John 263 Dunn, Robert 271 Beaudry, Jean 290 Thornton, L.A. D308 Green, Danny 329 Blank, William 338 Bohensky, Francis 338 Lovato, Victor 357 Gault, Earl 363 McKinney, Dale 363 Merriman, Keith 374 Dougherty, Patrick 374 Hoke, Evans 374 Hublar, Clifford 374 Kolb, Julius 374 Lentz, James Mail form to: Publications Department New Address 753 State Avenue, Suite 565 City State or Province Zip Local Lodge No. Register No. (Also please notify the secretary of your local lodge.) Kansas City, KS 66101 (Allow five weeks for change of address.) 374 374 374 374 374 374 378 D385 397 397 433 433 433 433 433 433 443 449 453 454 454 454 454 454 454 454 455 455 469 D494 500 502 502 502 524 524 549 549 549 549 549 549 549 555 568 568 568 568 D575 577 582 582 582 582 582 582 583 587 587 587 587 587 587 587 592 592 592 614 617 619 627 627 636 647 647 647 647 647 647 Lewis, Milton Newton, Junious Robb, Gilbert Sharp, Paul Urbanowski, Frank York, G.M. Smith, Alexander Morris, Gary Altemose, Roger Ostrander, Edward Bowie, Chester Campbell, William Fagan, E.J. Joy, Thomas Krasnicky, Vladimir Putnal, James Anderson, Arthur Lundquist, Nancy Wyrick, Clifton Brock, Paul Clark, Joe Duncan, Ronald Keesler, George Martin, Roger Warren, James Wilson, Hezzie Ashby, Kenneth Greer, Almon Garcia, Genaro Mattocks, Edward Kiser, James Conigliaro, Thomas Gilmore, Haskell Ursin, Rayder Long, Richard Olesek, Raymond Agnew, Billy Crowell, Charles Johnson, Augustus Martin, Clive McIntosh, Nolan Norman, James Rivera, Kevin Morris, Alan Blair, Clyde Hyde, Raymond Kim, Jong Rogers, Howard Cook, Ron McKoin, T.J. Callahan, Leon Crawford, James Fonte, Floyd King, Oscar Lucas, Larry Smith, Whitney Johnson, Robert Carlin, Clifton Hollie, Huey Klessig, Hugo Myers, Mason Poimboeuf, Woodrow Ruggles, Robert Yocum, Ozia Hawthorne, Luther Lewis, Claude Tucker, James Parlato Jr., Anthony Hogan, Freeman Panzanaro, Attilio Price, Liston Thompson, Lionel Carlson, William Adams, Herbert Austin, Elmer Francis, Kenneth Graham, James Johnson, Norman Vestlie, Ruben See Deaths Reported, page 23 IN MEMORIAM Sep • Oct 2005 D E AT H B E N E F I T S THE DEATH BENEFIT PLAN under the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust has paid the beneficiaries of the following deceased members who were covered by the plan since the last issue of our publication. LODGE, NAME & BENEFIT NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL NTL 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 10 13 13 26 26 27 27 27 27 Claypool, Walter H. $5,814.46 Daniels, Eddie F. 6,000.00 Darick, Warren H. 6,000.00 Holler, Gerald 6,000.00 Jacobson, Clifford A. 6,000.00 LaRue, William E. 6,000.00 Robbins, Sigley 6,000.00 Tricarico, John 6,000.00 VanCamp, Benjamin 6,000.00 Wood, Stanley L. 6,000.00 Andrews, Harold 6,000.00 Caballero, Alfredo 6,000.00 Grenko, Edward A. 6,000.00 McGrath, John J. 6,000.00 Soifer, Albert 3,000.00 Starritt, Barney R. 6,000.00 LaFemina, John 6,000.00 Mulligan, Joseph E. 6,000.00 Nostrom, William R. 6,000.00 Green, Norman 6,000.00 Hidalgo, Adolph 6,000.00 Pennington, Lorn E. 6,000.00 Ridge, Vernon Lee 6,000.00 Smith, Glen V. 6,000.00 Tagata, Faaliliu 6,000.00 Borzelleri, Francis E. 6,000.00 Brown, Elwood 6,000.00 Haggar, Arthur 6,000.00 Sieklicki, Florian J. 6,000.00 Hickox, F.G. 6,000.00 Smith Jr., George W. 6,000.00 Dennis, Marvin 6,000.00 Lampe, Joseph J. 6,000.00 Sapino, Joseph E. 6,000.00 Thurmond, Oliver A. 6,000.00 28 29 29 29 30 37 37 37 37 39 60 72 72 72 72 72 72 74 74 74 83 83 83 83 84 84 85 85 92 92 92 92 92 104 104 104 Grasso, Frank V. 5,000.00 Balestrieri, Edward 6,000.00 Knapp, Richard J. 6,000.00 Kurtz, Leslie 899.51 Atwell, James L. 15,000.00 Boos Sr., James D. 6,000.00 Colombel, Robert C. 6,000.00 Mancuso, John A. 6,000.00 Pardo, Anthony 6,000.00 Vargo, John P. 6,000.00 Branstetter, James E. 6,000.00 Aasby, George H. 6,000.00 Andrews, Earl V. 6,000.00 Cousins, Charles L. 6,000.00 Kent, George W. 6,000.00 Manley, Harold L. 6,000.00 Winter, Lerlow D. 6,000.00 Beaty, Andrew W. 6,712.71 Givens, Jerry W. 14,144.76 McDaniel, Charles 6,000.00 Allen, Ronald A. 6,000.00 Cleveland, Doss C. 6,000.00 Gruttemeyer, R. 6,000.00 Owens, Clent 6,000.00 Dicke, Henry A. 6,000.00 Lickteig, Harley G. 6,000.00 Garvin, Zollie R. 6,000.00 Denman, Russell E. 6,000.00 Carroll, Claude O. 6,000.00 Jernagan, Harold R. 6,000.00 Peleschak, Peter 6,000.00 Reyes, Abel 6,000.00 Silva, Victor L. 6,000.00 Anderson, Walter F. 6,000.00 Bonine, James E. 6,000.00 Culhane, John J. 6,000.00 Deaths reported by International Secretary-Treasurer’s office LODGE & NAME Continued from page 22 647 Witt, Clemens 651 Shiff, Jacob 656 Arnold, Joe 656 Moore, Clifford 656 Nealy, James 659 Baldensperger, Elmer 667 Bowling, Robert 667 Bradley, Delano 667 Croston, William 667 Kessel, H. 667 Shepard, W.C. 667 Slinde, Kerry 673 Myers, Bert 673 Nichols, William 673 Williams, William 679 Henderson, Arvin 684 Banks, Leroy 684 Gall, Carl 687 Feran Jr., Herbert 687 Williams, Jason 688 Scarborough, Calvin 696 Dudka, Stanley 696 Snyder, Robert 696 White, William 744 Bryson, William 744 Charboneau, Neil 744 Johnston, Thomas 744 McManamon, James 744 Parmentier, Albert 749 Carlson, Ralph 752 801 802 802 802 807 891 1012 1044 1060 1086 1086 1162 1191 1195 1240 1243 1243 1247 1247 1274 1393 1509 1600 1600 1603 1622 1670 1670 1670 1702 1978 Allard, Walter Anderton, William Dowe, Willie Settine, Richard Thomas, Reuben Brown, Alfred Baker, Corbett Scheurer, Donald Smith, Earl Dudek, Casimer Mraz, Emery Senger, Albert Kucharski, Stanley Reed, Earl Anders, Clarence Stapleton, Marion Gressley, Ray Kline, Bobby Bigos, Vincent Mowinski, Walter Pouliot, Roland Wenerick, William Cook, Bernard Dennison, Ronald Wilson, George Savage, Eugene Anderson, Andrew Harris, Julius Jolly, Ernest Scott, Robert Evans, Albert Garrey, Donald the Boilermaker Reporter - 23 IF YOU HAVE NOT yet been furnished this information, contact your local lodge, secure the beneficiary forms, complete the required information and forward to the Administrative Office of the Pension Fund, 754 Minnesota Avenue, Suite 522, Kansas City, KS 66101, at the earliest possible date. NOTE: These additional death benefits can only be derived for members who worked under a collective bargaining agreement with an employer contributing to the Boilermaker-Blacksmith National Pension Trust. 104 104 104 104 104 104 104 101 104 104 104 105 105 105 111 112 112 117 132 154 154 154 159 169 169 169 169 182 193 193 204 204 237 242 357 363 374 374 374 374 433 433 449 453 Duke, Cecil C. 6,000.00 Ferguson, Anthony 3,392.05 Gilcrease, John H. 6,000.00 Glasson, Eugene 6,000.00 Miller, John C. 6,000.00 Mitchell, William H. 6,000.00 Sestrich, John M. 6,000.00 Shea, Marion E. 6,000.00 Spradling, Robert 15,000.00 Stoddard, Kay R. 6,000.00 Wake, Marvin E. 6,000.00 Harper Jr., Maxie 6,000.00 Kingery, Floyd E. 6,000.00 Potter, Jesse 6,000.00 Stokes Jr., Walter S. 6,000.00 Erkhart, John P. 296.93 Stagner, Paul J. 6,000.00 Back, Harley J. 6,000.00 Woods, Billy J. 6,000.00 Eaton, W.H. 6,000.00 Marsteller, Russell L. 3,000.00 McGinnis, Robert C. 6,000.00 Randazzo, Joseph 6,000.00 Dyer, John M. 6,000.00 Hetherington, L. 6,000.00 Stewart, David H. 501.76 Valentine, Robert 71.86 Gibson, Norman L. 6,000.00 Coster Sr., Donald 6,000.00 Husarik, Stephen P. 6,000.00 Igarashi, Shungo 1,000.00 Tolar, Homer 6,000.00 Parlato, Anthony 6,000.00 Cherry, Lemuel B. 6,000.00 Gault, Earl R. 6,000.00 Merriman, Keith E. 6,000.00 Hoke, Evans R. 6,000.00 Jaros, Ronald J. 6,000.00 Newton, Junious A. 6,000.00 Sharp, Paul E. 6,000.00 Campbell, William E. 6,000.00 Krasnicky, Vladimir 6,000.00 Lundquist, Nancy 6,000.00 Wyrick, Clifton E. 6,000.00 Intl. Rep. Nick Adams served CLGAW members 32 years THEODORE “NICK” ADAMS, a recently retired International representative for the Cement, Lime, Gypsum, and Allied Workers Division of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, died in an automobile accident, along with his wife, Loretta Adams, on August 19. Adams joined Boilermakers Local D421 in 1971, served as his local’s president, and was appointed to be an International rep. in 1995. A lengthy illness forced him to retire in 2003. The Adamses are survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Lawson and Christine Adams; a daughter, Kelli Hutchinson; grandchildren, Joshua Adams, Destyn and Cody Hutchinson; Nick’s mother, Blanche Humphreys; his brother and sisterin-law, Pete and Evelyn Adams; Loretta’s mother, Mevina Cottle; her brother, Doyle Thompson; her three sisters and brothers-in-law, Phyllis and Gil Blackburn, Barbara Freeman, 454 Keesler, George A. 6,000.00 454 Warren, James A. 6,000.00 454 Wilson, Hezzie R. 3,000.00 455 Ashby, Kenneth R. 6,000.00 455 England, James B. 6,000.00 469 Garcia, Genaro C. 6,000.00 502 Conigliaro, Thomas 6,000.00 502 Ursin, Rayder M. 6,000.00 549 Crowell, Charles R. 6,000.00 568 Blair, Clyde L. 6,000.00 582 Lucas, Larry J. 538.00 583 Johnson, Robert J. 6,000.00 592 Lewis, Claude A. 6,000.00 592 Tucker, James D. 6,000.00 627 Price, Liston V. 6,000.00 647 Adams, Herbert W. 6,000.00 647 Francis, Kenneth R. 6,403.39 647 Graham, James C. 6,000.00 647 Krumrei, Thomas 6,454.04 647 Vestlie, Ruben O. 6,000.00 647 Witt, Clemens N. 6,000.00 651 Shiff, Jacob M. 6,000.00 667 Bradley, Delano E. 6,000.00 667 Cunningham, Paige 9,170.94 667 Palumbo, Patsy 6,000.00 667 Williams, William R. 6,000.00 687 Williams, Jason R. 5,685.72 696 Dudka, Stanley J. 6,000.00 696 White, William A. 6,000.00 744 Johnston, Thomas E. 6,000.00 744 Parmentier, Albert C. 4,000.00 802 Dowe, Willie J. 6,000.00 802 Settine, Richard H. 6,000.00 802 Thomas, Reuben D. 6,000.00 1044 Smith, Earl 6,000.00 1086 Mraz, Emery E. 6,000.00 1243 Gressley, Ray B. 6,000.00 1243 Kline, Bobby L.* 3,000.00 1603 Savage, Eugene E. 6,000.00 1670 Harris, Julius 6,000.00 1670 Jolly, Ernest D. 6,000.00 1670 Scott, Robert 4,500.00 1978 Garrey, Donald Earl 6,000.00 * Additional benefits paid and Angel and John Cox; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews, plus one great grandniece. Former IR Raleigh Eversole was a Boilermaker 34 years RALEIGH EVERSOLE, a 34-year member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, passed away on September 12 from a heart attack. Eversole joined the Boilermakers Local D408 in 1971. He was appointed the position of International representative for the Cement, Lime, Gypsum, and Allied Workers Division of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers on July 1, 2000. Eversole is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret McBribe Eversole; two sons, Raleigh E. Eversole IV and Tom Waldrop; three daughters, Dawn Eversole, Mikki Gano, and Catherine Cook; nine grandchildren; and a sister, Juantita Burditus. 24 - the Boilermaker Reporter A MESSAGE TO OUR MEMBERS Sep • Oct 2005 Hurricane inspires heroic deeds RAGEDY OFTEN REVEALS our inner natures. We either give up, or we struggle to survive. We either withdraw into ourselves, or we reach out to help those around us. Hurricane Katrina has revealed the heroic natures of many of our Boilermaker members. Even before electrical power had been restored to their homes, Boilermakers were volunteering to do whatever they could to bring relief supplies to those in areas where food and water were not available. They were opening their homes to refugees. They were donating money, blankets, clothing, and other essentials to those who had lost everything in one of the biggest natural disasters of this decade. As I learned of the extent of the damage, I took actions within my power. I allocated money to start a relief fund to purchase emergency supplies and deliver them to the areas of greatest need. I dispatched IVPs Sam May and Othal Smith to the area to coordinate relief efforts. They were in Slidell, La., when our first relief truck arrived, and because no one else was available at the time, they unloaded it themselves. I also directed IVP May to create a database and begin collecting information so we could account for every member in the area hit hardest by the hurricane. We are still collecting information. It is important to us to know that every one of our members is accounted for and to provide them what assistance we can. And I temporarily suspended per capita dues for members hit by the hurricane so they can devote all their resources to taking care of their families. T “Traveling angels of mercy” ALL OF THE ACTIONS I took were necessary, and they helped. But it was the outpouring of voluntary support from our members that made the Boilermakers’ relief efforts work. Events unfolded so rapidly that our front page story and my remarks here barely scratch the surface. But it is clear that for several days, Boilermaker volunteers were a vital part of relief efforts along the Gulf Coast. While state and federal officials were arguing about who was responsible for the widespread failure of the region’s disaster Union members help each other in times of need — on the job and when disaster strikes. response, Boilermaker volunteers were busy delivering relief supplies. Power was still out in Local 112’s hall when AIP Dennis King attended a meeting there and asked for volunteers to help him load trucks and drive relief supplies to Boilermaker families throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The response he got was inspiring. Through his connections with Northrop-Grumman, which employs our members in Pascagoula, Miss., and Bridge City, La., King was able to get work permits that allowed him into the hurricane-damaged area. Over the next 10 days, Boilermaker volunteers loaded and drove as many as 18 trucks a day to 20 different locations, often working 12-hour days. We were able to get places others could not, and when FEMA officials saw that we had baby supplies, food, and bleach on our trucks, they asked us to take some to Pass Christian. There, National Guardsmen worked side-byside with our members to unload some of the first trucks allowed into that area. Soon calls were coming from states all over the region as people with relief supplies learned that Boilermaker volunteers were delivering where others could not. Our volunteers went wherever they were asked to go, wherever the need was greatest. They not only loaded, unloaded, and drove the trucks, but many used their own personal vehicle to haul goods. One woman who benefited from their selfless work called them “traveling angels of mercy.” That is a fitting description. Our relief fund spent $55,000 purchasing and delivering supplies. Boilermakers also delivered supplies for the Red Cross and United Way, after Local 112 members Bubba and Hugh Turner heard that the United Way couldn’t get permits to enter the area. Many other individuals and groups donated supplies that Boilermakers delivered. I cannot possibly name everyone who deserves recognition, but AIP Dennis King and District 5 BM John Simoneaux deserve credit for their onthe-ground coordination of relief efforts. Local 112 BM Curtis Brooks was also crucial to the effort, always able to deliver what was needed — whether relief supplies or volunteers. And the dozens of individual volunteers who lent their vehicles, their time, and their bodies must be recognized. Without workers, no work gets done. The Boilermakers relief fund AN IMPORTANT THING to remember is that all of these actions have been voluntary responses to an emergency. The Boilermakers union is not a relief agency. We negotiate contracts and enforce them so that our members are treated fairly where they work. We do not plan what to do in case of natural disaster, and we do not have a large reserve fund for emergencies. But the very nature of unionism is that members help each other. An injury to one is an injury to all — whether the injury comes from a multinational corporation or a category 4 hurricane. When one of us is injured, we do what we can to help. Many Boilermakers were hurt by the hurricane. Our members’ response shows that the true spirit of unionism is Newton B. Jones International President thriving in our union. Boilermakers in the region donated their time, and Boilermakers throughout the country have donated money to help. As of this writing, nearly $200,000 has been donated to the Boilermakers Disaster Relief Fund. I will ask the Executive Council to contribute another $100,000 from our union defense fund. Although our early relief efforts included everyone, now that the crisis is over, our relief fund will focus on helping Boilermaker members and their families. Hundreds of our members have suffered enormous losses in this disaster. The federal government will help them rebuild their homes. In the meantime, they need our help. All lodges in the area have established relief centers. We need money to keep those centers going and to help dislocated members find housing and transportation. I urge all Boilermaker members and local lodges to donate to the Boilermaker Disaster Relief Fund. Your donations will go to help your union brothers and sisters and their families. Give what you can. ❑ (See page 3 for information on how to donate to the relief fund.) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR L-1620’s Anderson retires MEMBERS OF BOILERMAKERS Local 1620 want to thank Charlie Anderson for his 44 years of service and wish him a long and happy retirement. Charlie served the local in every capacity from president to committeeman. In his final position as committeeman, he helped negotiate a contract until the day of his retirement, and then consulted until the contract was ratified on July 8th. Charlie’s knowledge and experience will be greatly missed by our members. BILL COLEMAN Local 1620 President Portland, Ind. It’s the Democrats fault? AN EDITORIAL IN my home town’s newspaper blamed the Democrats for the high gas prices at the pumps. Let’s get our facts straight. A majority of the Democrats [in Congress] did vote for oil exploration and more off-shore drilling [when the http://capwiz.com/boilermaker bill] included having the corporations doing this cover the cost of any clean ups needed, plus restoration of the environment to its previous natural condition. The Republicans would not pass this bill because of the [potential] burden to their friends in big business. But let’s blame the Democrats. When President Clinton left office oil was $20 a barrel, now it is $70. But let’s blame the Democrats. MARTY HOLLAND Local 454 Chattanooga, Tenn. We must stop concessions I RECENTLY READ the article, “Lockout heats up at Wabash Alloys” in the Boilermaker Reporter about the fight against concessions at Wabash Alloys. If concessions are not sopped by our union at Wabash Alloys, then where will they be stopped? If concessions are not stopped by Boilermakers Local 1240, then who will stop them? I mailed a donation to Local 1240. I encourage all Boilermakers to mail a donation to Local 1240. CHARLES E. MORSE Local 83 Saint Ansgar, Iowa L-7’s Spencer on Bush’s Davis-Bacon suspension PRESIDENT BUSH ISSUED an executive order suspending the DavisBacon Act in the hurricane-devastated area of the Gulf Coast. The entire region has to be rebuilt. There will be tens of billions of federal dollars going into this area. Federal agencies are handing out “No-Bid” contracts without any protection for the taxpayer or local labor pool. This is not a union, nonunion issue. The Davis-Bacon Act provides the same protection to all workers. These vulnerable citizens are desperate for work and will take any jobs at whatever wages are offered. Davis-Bacon protection would allow them to restore dignity to their lives. Brian Higgins (D-NY) is trying to overturn President Bush’s edict. I encourage all the members of the U.S. House of Representatives to apply pressure on President Bush to rescind his executive order and to treat the people of the Gulf Coast with the dignity they deserve. They have been through enough! MARTIN D. SPENCER, JR. Local 7 Buffalo, NY Got something to say? WE WELCOME LETTERS of fewer than 150 words on topics of interest to our members and their families. We do not publish personal attacks on members or unsigned letters. SEND A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The Boilermaker Reporter 753 State Ave. Suite 570 Kansas City KS 66101 FAX: (913) 281-8104 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.boilermakers.org
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